Exposed: The Dark Side of Illegal Streaming at the Paris Olympics – Over 46% Promote Black Market Gambling
Rising Concerns Over Illegal Streaming of Olympic Games Featuring Gambling Advertisements
Published: August 21, 2023
Recent data from technical intelligence platform Yield Sec has revealed a troubling trend in the realm of illegal streaming during the recently concluded 2023 Summer Olympics, held from July 26 to August 11. The report underscores the extensive presence of gambling advertisements promoting black market brands, highlighting that 46% of all illegal streams offered these ads, outpacing any other industry.
Scale of Illegal Streaming
The Yield Sec report estimates that there were approximately 266.7 million illegal stream views of 90 seconds or longer related to the Paris Olympic Games. This staggering figure illustrates the prevalence of unauthorized access to sports events, raising red flags about potential risks for users engaging with such streams.
‘Illegal streaming is not about getting something for nothing – it’s about the serious risks users unknowingly expose themselves to,’ stated Yield Sec. The company emphasized the misconception among users that they are obtaining entertainment content for free. In reality, they are endangering their personal data, devices, and processing power by unwittingly contributing to the operations of illegal streamers and the criminal entities behind them.
Dominance of Gambling Advertisements
The report indicated a significant presence of unlicensed gambling operators within illegal streams, positioning it as the leading industry in ad placements during the Olympics. While gambling ads accounted for 46% of all streams, other industries followed at a distance: online games at 18%, adult entertainment at 11%, and cryptocurrency ventures at 9%.
Yield Sec also revealed that illegal streams displayed gambling advertisements an average of four times every ten minutes, subjecting viewers to unregulated marketing that could lead to risky betting practices.
Risks of Betting on Illegal Streams
One of the most alarming findings from the report involved the manipulation of betting odds. Yield Sec noted that because the feed for these illegal streams experienced delays, users placing bets based on what they viewed were often at a disadvantage. ‘[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],’ the report pointed out.
This practice not only raises ethical concerns but also poses serious financial risks for individuals engaging with these illegal streaming platforms.
Geographic Distribution of Illegal Streams
In exploring the sources of illegal streams, Yield Sec identified a staggering 11,958 online locations responsible for the content. Furthermore, around 120,000 mirror and redirect sites were discovered, complicating the enforcement of anti-piracy regulations.
Regionally, Asia emerged as the primary source of illegal Olympic streams, accounting for 36% of the total. Europe and the UK combined represented 21%, while Latin America contributed 17%, North America 16%, and Africa 9%. Australia and New Zealand were relatively minor contributors, making up just 1% of the total streams.
Conclusion
As the data reveals the extensive promotion of illegal gambling through unregulated platforms, the need for enhanced awareness and regulatory action becomes clear. Users must understand the risks associated with illegal streams, not only in terms of financial loss but also with respect to their personal information and cybersecurity. The findings from Yield Sec serve as a crucial reminder of the growing issues facing the digital landscape in relation to sports streaming and online gambling advertising.