Olympic Games Unveiled: The Dark Side of Illegal Streaming and Black Market Gambling Ads
New Report Reveals Spike in Illegal Streaming During Paris Olympics, With Gambling Ads Dominating
August 21, 2023— A recent report from the technical intelligence platform Yield Sec has shed light on the prevalence of illegal streaming during the Paris Olympic Games, which took place from July 26 to August 11, 2023. According to the data released today, a staggering 46% of all illegal streams showcased gambling advertisements promoting unlicensed brands, marking the highest rate among various industries.
Scale of Illegal Streaming
Yield Sec’s analysis estimated that there were approximately 266.7 million instances of illegal stream views lasting at least 90 seconds throughout the duration of the Olympics. The report emphasizes the significant risks associated with illegal streaming, stating that users often unwittingly expose themselves to serious threats.
“Illegal streaming is not about getting something for nothing – it’s about the serious risks users unknowingly expose themselves to,” Yield Sec explained. The report highlights a common misconception: users believe they access premium content without cost, but in reality, they may be compromising their personal data and the performance of their devices while supporting criminal networks behind these illegal streams.
Prevalence of Gambling Advertisements
The report underscores the substantial presence of unlicensed gambling operators among online streams. With gambling ads appearing on 46% of the illegal streams, this industry outpaced others significantly. The next most frequent ads came from the online gaming sector, appearing on 18% of streams, followed by adult entertainment ads on 11% and cryptocurrency-related content on 9%.
Yield Sec noted that viewers of these illegal streams encountered unregulated gambling advertising frequently, estimating that such ads appeared an average of four times every 10 minutes. The report did not specify the brands featured in these advertisements but emphasized the risks associated with exposure to black market gambling ads.
Risks of Manipulated Betting
The report highlighted the potential pitfalls of illegal streaming in relation to gambling. It revealed that due to delays in the streaming feed, viewers might be placing bets on events that the illegal gambling operators were already aware of— undermining the fair play of the betting experience. ‘Bets placed on the match directly from watching that illegal stream would be placed on events that the illegal gambling operator already knew the outcome for, effectively cheating the consumer of their betting stakes,’ Yield Sec warned.
Geographic Insights into Illegal Streams
Yield Sec’s report also delved into the geographic sources of these illegal streams, identifying a total of 11,958 online locations facilitating the activity. Additionally, over 120,000 sites were identified as mirrors or redirects for streaming purposes.
Asia emerged as the predominant region for illegal streams, accounting for 36% of total views, followed by Europe and the UK at 21%. Latin America was responsible for 17%, North America for 16%, and Africa for 9%. Australia and New Zealand contributed only 1% of illegal Olympic streams.
Conclusion
The findings of Yield Sec underscore the complex interplay of illegal streaming and unregulated gambling, particularly during high-profile events such as the Olympic Games. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it remains critical for users to be aware of the risks associated with illegal streaming and gambling, which could have far-reaching implications for their personal security and the integrity of sports betting.