Olympic Outrage: 46% of Illegal Streams Promoted Black Market Gambling, Exposing Users to Hidden Risks
Rise of Illegal Streaming During 2023 Olympic Games: Report Highlights Gambling Advertisements
A recent report from technical intelligence platform Yield Sec has shed light on the widespread incidence of illegal streaming during the Paris Olympic Games, held from July 26 to August 11. The findings reveal that a staggering 46% of all illegal streams showcased advertisements for black market gambling brands, surpassing other industries in this illicit marketplace.
Scale of Illegal Streaming
According to Yield Sec, the total number of views for illegal streams of the Olympic coverage amounted to an estimated 266.7 million, with viewers watching for at least 90 seconds. This data highlights the scale of unauthorized broadcasting, further exacerbating concerns over the risks associated with such activities.
User Risks in Illegal Streaming
Yield Sec emphasizes the inherent dangers users face when engaging with illegal streams. ‘Illegal streaming is not about getting something for nothing – it’s about the serious risks users unknowingly expose themselves to,’ commented the firm. Users seeking free access to premium entertainment often end up compromising their personal data and device security. Yield Sec warned that in this scenario, the viewers themselves become the product, as they unwittingly provide their data and device processing power to criminal enterprises behind these illegal streams.
Dominance of Gambling Advertisements
The report details a concerning trend in the types of advertisements that permeate illegal streaming platforms. Gambling advertisements, specifically those from unlicensed operators, were the clear front-runners among the various industries advertising during the Games. In stark contrast, the next highest advertisers were online games at 18%, followed by adult entertainment (11%), and cryptocurrency promotions (9%).
On average, viewers of these illegal streams were inundated with gambling ads, encountering them roughly four times every ten minutes. The report did not specify which brands were promoted; however, it raised alarms about the implications of seeing such ads on unauthorized platforms.
Risks of Manipulation in Betting
An alarming portion of Yield Sec’s report details the manipulative strategies employed by illegal gambling operators. The report highlights that the feeds provided through illegal streaming were often delayed. This delay means that bettors watching these streams were at a distinct disadvantage; those placing bets on live events could be betting on outcomes that these gambling operators already had knowledge of, thereby cheating consumers out of their stakes.
Geographic Distribution of Illegal Streams
Yield Sec’s investigation also examined the sources of these illegal streams, identifying a total of 11,958 online locations facilitating the unauthorized broadcasts. Additionally, it discovered around 120,000 sites that acted as mirrors or redirects to these illegal streams.
Geographically, Asia emerged as the dominant region for illegal streams, responsible for 36% of total views. This was followed by Europe and the UK, which contributed 21% of the streams. Latin America accounted for 17%, while North America and Africa accounted for 16% and 9%, respectively. Australia and New Zealand made up a mere 1% of the illegal Olympic streams.
Conclusion
As the data from Yield Sec illustrates, the summer Olympics not only provided a global stage for athletic competition but also highlighted the troubling prevalence of illegal streaming and unregulated gambling advertisements. This report serves as a critical reminder for users to exercise caution when accessing online content and to remain aware of the potential hazards associated with illegal streams.