New Data Reveals Soaring Illegal Gambling Ads on Unlicensed Olympic Streams: What You Need to Know
Illegal Gambling Ads Dominate Black Market Streaming of Olympics, New Report Reveals
In a striking revelation, a recent report by the technical intelligence platform Yield Sec has highlighted the pervasive presence of illegal gambling advertisements during the summer Olympic Games, which took place this year from July 26 to August 11. The report, published on August 21, details that a staggering 46% of all illegal streams promoting events from the Paris Olympics featured adverts for unlicensed gambling operators, making it the most prevalent industry among black market advertising.
The Scale of Illegal Streaming
Yield Sec has estimated that there were approximately 266.7 million views of illegal streams lasting 90 seconds or more during the Olympic Games. This substantial figure underscores the rampant illegal streaming activity surrounding one of the world’s most popular sporting events. According to Yield Sec, while users may believe they are accessing premium content for free, they are often unknowingly compromising their personal data and device functionality to criminal groups that facilitate these illegal activities.
‘Illegal streaming is not about getting something for nothing – it’s about the serious risks users unknowingly expose themselves to,’ stated Yield Sec. The platform emphasized that users essentially pay the price for free content by becoming targets for data mining and exploitation.
Dominance of Gambling Advertisements
The report sheds light on the particularly concerning trend of illegal gambling advertisements infiltrating these streams. Of all illegal streams analyzed, nearly half showcased gambling ads, many of which were linked directly to sports events, including Olympic competitions. In stark contrast, the second-largest category of advertisements was in online gaming, which accounted for 18%, followed by adult entertainment at 11%, and cryptocurrency promotions at 9%.
Yield Sec found that viewers of illegal streams encountered gambling advertisements with alarming frequency, with such ads appearing an average of four times for every 10 minutes of viewing. While the report refrained from identifying specific gambling brands featured in these campaigns, it raised significant concerns regarding the potential manipulation of bettors.
Risks Associated with Delayed Feeds
One of the most alarming findings reported by Yield Sec was the manipulation risk posed by delayed streaming feeds. According to the report, viewers accessing illegal streams often experienced delays, which could lead to a situation where bets were placed on outcomes already known to the illegal gambling operators. This undermines the integrity of betting activities and essentially cheats consumers out of their stakes.
Geographic Distribution of Illegal Streams
The report also examined the geographical sources of illegal streams. Asia emerged as the predominant region, accounting for 36% of all illegal streams. Europe and the UK followed closely behind, responsible for 21% of the illegal activity. Latin America and North America contributed to 17% and 16% respectively, while Africa accounted for 9%. In comparison, Australia and New Zealand represented a mere 1% of the total illegal Olympic streams.
In total, Yield Sec identified nearly 12,000 unique online locations responsible for these illegal streams, along with an additional 120,000 sites serving as mirrors and redirects.
Conclusion
As the popularity of sporting events like the Olympic Games continues to grow, so does the challenge posed by illegal streaming and unregulated gambling advertisements. The findings of the Yield Sec report serve as a stark reminder of the risks associated with accessing illicitly streamed content and highlight the need for ongoing vigilance against the encroachment of black market activities in the realm of sports entertainment.