Summary
- The Campaign for Fairer Gambling has published a new report by Yield Sec, highlighting how illegal sports streaming supports illegal gambling activities throughout the United States.
- Illegal sports streaming facilitates unlawful gambling and simultaneously disseminates spyware and malware.
- Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, discusses the crucial need for regulating sports content to protect sports leagues and broadcasters.
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG), known for its independent and practical stance on gambling policy, has unveiled a new report detailing the relationship between illegal live sports streaming and its role in encouraging illegal gambling.
Theft of premium sports content helps expand the reach of illegal online gambling
The CFG commissioned a new report crafted by Yield Sec, a leading online intelligence platform, revealing a striking trend in illegal sports streaming. In 2024, sports fans across the United States accessed approximately 4.2 billion illicit sports streams lasting 90 seconds or more. Alarmingly, 82% of these unauthorized streams promoted illegal online gambling, according to the report. Moreover, the white paper highlighted that illegal online gambling serves as the primary commercial driver behind the theft of premium sports content. Beyond endorsing illegal gambling and contributing to a $67 billion black market in the U.S., these streams are vehicles for malware and spyware dissemination. The report noted that 84% of these illegal stream views contained malware, spyware, or keystroke loggers, effectively turning many viewers into unsuspecting victims. The repercussions of these unlawful streams extend beyond sports teams and franchises such as the NBA, NFL, and NHL. They steal premium content on an industrial scale from leading broadcasters, including ESPN, ABC, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, DAZN, and many others.
Crime networks steal from America's sports content and lure people into illegal gambling
Illegal streaming acts as a Trojan Horse for digital crime, disguising exploitation and theft as 'free' content, he stated. Vali acknowledged that the recent report underscores the substantial role illegal streaming plays within well-organized and widespread criminal networks. Yield Sec's Founder and CEO emphasized, Crime is robbing America of its sports ecosystem, threatening the future of the premium sports content audiences demand and the sustainable growth and development of American sports. Derek Webb, the founder of CFG, noted, Illegal streaming and gambling have created a sinister alliance, forming a transnational techno-crime network. Additionally, he highlighted the impact of U.S. soft power in expanding sports and entertainment content globally. Webb urged the federal government to strengthen the protection of the nation's online borders and safeguard the economy from these illegal activities. The release of this report follows the recent conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup and NBA Finals. Significantly, both basketball and soccer rank among the top 10 most illegally streamed sports in the United States.
