The Dark Side of Olympic Streaming: 46% of Illegal Streams Promoted Gambling Ads, Exposing Users to Risk
Illegal Gambling Ads Dominate Illegally Streamed Coverage of Paris Olympics, New Report Reveals
On August 21, a new report from the technical intelligence platform Yield Sec unveiled alarming findings regarding the prevalence of illegal streaming during the Paris Olympic Games 2024, which took place from July 26 to August 11. According to the report, advertisements promoting unlicensed gambling operated by black market brands featured prominently across illegal streams, accounting for 46% of all ad placements during the event. This figure positions gambling as the most heavily advertised industry on these illicit platforms.
Scope of Illegal Streaming
Yield Sec’s analysis estimates that there were approximately 266.7 million illegal streams of events lasting at least 90 seconds during the Olympic Games. The report highlights the burgeoning trend of illegal streaming, suggesting that users may not fully recognize the risks associated with engaging with such content.
“Illegal streaming is not about getting something for nothing – it’s about the serious risks users unknowingly expose themselves to,” Yield Sec commented. Users often believe they are accessing premium content for free, but in reality, they unknowingly contribute their data, device processing power, and other valuable resources to the illegal streamers and the criminal groups that support them.
A Closer Look at Gambling Ads
The report underscores the heavy presence of gambling advertisements, which featured an average of four times every 10 minutes on illegal streams. These ads primarily promoted unlicensed operators utilizing Olympic-themed content to capture viewer attention. In comparison, the second highest industry advertising in these illegal streams was online gaming, which appeared in 18% of streams. Other industries included adult entertainment (11%) and cryptocurrency (9%).
While the report did not specify the brands promoting their services during the broadcasts, it raised serious concerns about the implications of such advertisements for unsuspecting viewers.
The Risk of Manipulated Betting
One of the more alarming aspects highlighted in the report is the manipulation involved in betting on these illegally streamed events. Due to a delay in the streaming feed, viewers placing bets based on the illegal streams were often wagering on events where the outcomes were already known to the illegal gambling operators. This practice compromises the integrity of the betting landscape and effectively cheats users of their stakes, further illustrating the risks of engaging with illegal streaming services.
Geographic Breakdown of Illegal Streams
Yield Sec also provided insights into the geographic distribution of these illegal streams. Asia emerged as the primary source, accounting for 36% of all illegal streams related to the Olympics. Europe and the UK followed at 21%, while Latin America contributed 17% of the streams. North America represented 16%, and Africa made up 9%. Australia and New Zealand had a negligible presence, generating only 1% of the illegal Olympic streams.
Conclusion
The findings from Yield Sec serve as a stark reminder of the perils associated with illegal streaming, particularly concerning unregulated gambling ads that exploit viewers. As the popularity of online streaming continues to grow, highlighting these risks is crucial for informing the public about the hidden costs associated with accessing free content. The data calls for greater scrutiny of illegal streaming practices and a concerted effort to protect consumers from the associated dangers.