Here are the recommended reads for this week and why they matter:

Retailers are seeing a surge in agentic AI traffic as autonomous shopping agents become more active and harder to monitor. Forter’s new tools aim to provide real-time visibility and smarter fraud prevention to address this growing challenge. Meanwhile, the gaming world is facing a different kind of disruption, as new research from the American Gaming Association (AGA) shows most sweepstakes casino players consider it real gambling, with cash rewards as the main driver and participation higher in states with fewer restrictions. 

1- New Trust Platform Features Help Retailers Manage Agentic AI Risks 

John P. Mello Jr., E-Commerce Times, 8/6/2025 

Forter has added new features to its Trust Platform to help retailers detect and manage agentic AI, the autonomous agents that browse, compare, and even complete purchases on behalf of users. The update includes real-time monitoring of AI agent behavior and a new dashboard that gives merchants visibility into actions initiated by these agents, such as cart activity or account changes. 

This shift comes after Forter reported an 18,510 percent spike in agentic traffic following the release of ChatGPT Agent, along with a 50 percent rise in fraud tied to automated threats. As AI agents become more involved in the shopping journey, these tools allow retailers to go beyond basic bot detection and apply adaptive trust policies that balance security with seamless customer experiences. 

2 – AGA: Majority Of Sweeps Casino Players Say Money Is Top Motivator  

Matthew Waters, Legal Sports Report, 8/4/2025 

A new American Gaming Association (AGA) survey reveals that most sweepstakes casino users see these platforms not as harmless fun, but as real gambling. Sixty-five percent (65%) said their main motivation is to win money, and the vast majority believe they are actually wagering, not just playing for entertainment. This perception challenges how sweepstakes casinos are positioned and regulated. 

The study also shows that these players behave much like real-money gamblers. They play frequently, spend regularly, and share similar demographic profiles. In states where sweepstakes casinos are allowed or loosely regulated, participation is nearly twice as high, raising important questions about consumer protection and market overlap. 

In Summary

While retailers adapt to the rise of autonomous agents with smarter tools to manage risk and complexity, the sweepstakes industry highlights a different kind of challenge: how user perception shapes the boundaries of regulation and engagement. Together, these stories show that staying ahead is not just about deploying innovative technologies but understanding how people interpret and respond to them.  

Check back next week for another roundup of Media That Matters.  

For more insights on Optimove, contact us.

Published on August 8th, 2025

Posted in

• Positionless Marketing
• Company News

Rob Wyse

Rob Wyse is Senior Director of Communications at Optimove. As a communications consultant, he has been influential in changing public opinion and policy to drive market opportunity. Example issues he has worked on include climate change, healthcare reform, homeland security, cloud transformation, AI, and other timely issues.