The Problem – Standard policies fall short

Standard insurance policies often lack the breadth to cover these technology and cyber risks. Traditional professional liability (E&O) insurance typically focuses on failures of service (like missed deadlines) and may exclude coverage for pure software bugs or IT downtime. A major code failure (such as a critical gameplay bug) could leave a gaming or betting platform completely exposed.

Similarly, basic cyber insurance policies may have gaps in addressing gaming-specific issues, such as coverage for virtual currency theft or transaction fraud. Business interruption from a cyber event or system outage is also a unique risk; general property BI policies typically assume physical damage and may not address an extended online outage.

For example, if a faulty patch causes an online game’s servers to crash for hours, a standard policy would not cover the lost revenue or the cost to fix the code promptly. Likewise, a data breach or ransomware attack on a gaming platform can leave companies facing huge response costs without a specialized cyber policy in place.

The Solution – Tailored Tech E&O and Cyber Coverage

A customized insurance program for gaming tech should include:

  • Technology Errors & Omissions (Tech E&O): Protects against claims from software or system failures. This covers situations like game bugs, downtimes or glitches in the gaming or betting software that lead to client losses. For instance, if a software update on a betting platform miscalculates odds, Tech E&O can pay legal defense and settlements for the affected users.
  • Cyber Insurance: Covers data breaches, ransomware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and other cyber threats. It funds incident response (forensics, legal counsel, and notifying affected players), system restoration and business interruption losses. For example, if hackers steal players’ personal data or bring down game servers, the cyber policy covers remediation costs and may help cover regulatory fines.
  • Digital Business Interruption: Often included in a robust cyber or tech policy, this covers income losses when servers or networks go offline unexpectedly. In gaming, every minute of downtime can cost significant revenue, so this coverage reimburses lost profits during the outage.
  • Fraud and Crime Coverage: Addresses financial losses from internal or external fraud. For example, it can cover unauthorized transactions initiated by rogue employees or exploitation by cheaters in a gaming economy. This complements cybersecurity controls by providing a financial safety net for loss.

Typical Claims Scenarios

  • Scenario 1: An online sportsbook releases a software patch that accidentally allows users to place bets at incorrect odds. Players quickly bet large amounts at these favorable odds. The Tech E&O policy covers the cost of honoring those bets to maintain reputation and defends the company in related disputes.
  • Scenario 2: A popular multiplayer game experiences a major DDoS attack during peak hours, making the game unplayable. Cyber insurance steps in to mitigate losses by funding emergency mitigation services, restoring network integrity and reimbursing lost revenue during the downtime.
  • Scenario 3: A mobile game’s payment processing system malfunctions on a holiday weekend, delaying thousands of in-app purchases. The Tech E&O coverage pays for urgent software fixes and compensates partners (such as app stores) for breach of service.
  • Scenario 4: A hacker steals a group of player accounts on an online casino platform and withdraws funds fraudulently. Cyber and Crime coverage handle the forensic investigation, reimburse the stolen funds (if allowed), and support legal action against the attacker.

Pro Tip

When placing Tech E&O and Cyber coverage, emphasize your company’s security and development practices. Conduct regular penetration tests and code reviews, enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical access, and maintain secure backup systems in a separate environment. Make sure your cyber policy includes breach response services and strong incident management support.

Also, define service levels and response times in your contracts with cloud and infrastructure providers. Having clear SLAs can be critical in negotiations after an outage. Structure your program with appropriate retentions and limits: higher self-insured retentions can lower premiums if your team has strong cybersecurity measures, but ensure your total capacity can cover extreme worst-case losses