A recent investigation by KrebsOnSecurity uncovered more than 1,200 online gaming websites tied to a scam network. These sites are made to look polished and legitimate. They offer free credits or bonus payouts, but once someone deposits cryptocurrency to claim a prize, the site disappears—and the money is gone.
This might sound like something that only affects individuals, but that changes the moment an employee opens one of these sites on a work device.
Connecting to these platforms from inside a business network can expose your systems to risk. The scam sites often share infrastructure like wallet addresses, chat tools, and backend code. Even visiting one can give scammers a digital footprint of your environment.
The current scam is financial in nature, but the same infrastructure could easily be used to distribute malware, steal credentials, or gain access to internal systems. If your company doesn’t have strong endpoint protection, network segmentation, or restrictions on what employees can install, the path from casual click to serious breach can be very short.
These incidents often don’t stop at a single scam. Once a user interacts with one of these sites, they may become a target for phishing emails, fake tech support calls, or follow-up scams. And if that user has access to sensitive business data or systems, the fallout affects everyone.
Even in the best-case scenario — no scam, no malware — online games obviously still create a drain on time and focus. These platforms are designed to hold attention. If employees are regularly using company time and equipment for gaming, productivity takes a hit, and you lose control over what’s happening on your network.
So how do you keep games off business systems?
It starts with policy. Employees need to understand that work devices are for business use. That includes company laptops, desktops, mobile phones, and anything else you provide or manage. A clear, written acceptable use policy should outline what is and isn’t allowed, including rules about installing software or visiting gaming and gambling websites.
Make sure employees know the reason behind the policy. This isn’t about being controlling. It’s about preventing real financial and security risks. Once people understand that gaming sites are being used as scam tools and potential entry points into the business, the rules make a lot more sense.
From there, technical controls can reinforce the message. DNS filtering and content blocking tools can help prevent access to high-risk sites. Limiting admin rights makes it harder for employees to install unauthorized software or browser extensions. And a little awareness training can go a long way in helping people recognize what’s safe and what isn’t.
The behavior at the top matters too. If managers are using company devices for casual browsing or entertainment, it sets the wrong tone. A strong policy backed by consistent leadership sends a clear message.
Online games might seem like a harmless way to pass a few minutes, but scammers are using them as a front for much more serious schemes. It only takes one click on the wrong site to put your network, your data, and your business at risk.