UK Crackdown Sees 87% Drop in Gambling Ads on Illegal Streaming Sites

The Metropolitan Police Service has taken strong action against wagering promotions displayed on illicit streaming platforms, and the results are impressive! A recent analysis reveals a significant 87% reduction in these advertisements over the last twelve months. This accomplishment stems from the diligent work of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) and their “Creative Content UK” program, established in 2013.

This program doesn’t solely focus on obvious offenders like pirated films and songs; it also pursues those sly betting promotions that appear where they shouldn’t. This safeguards authorized gaming providers from unknowingly financing unlawful actions and guarantees they adhere to the regulations outlined in the Gambling Act of 2005.

The UK Gambling Commission also joined the effort in 2016, mandating ethical digital marketing for all licensed gaming providers. They even took it a step further by requiring these providers to confirm that any external advertisers they collaborate with uphold the same standards.

To complete the picture, there’s now a convenient and regularly updated inventory of copyright-violating websites. This list, assembled by law enforcement, is available to gaming providers participating in the program, making it even simpler for them to avoid unintentionally supporting illegal operations.

In an official statement revealing the operation’s outcomes, Detective Superintendent Peter Ratcliffe, who leads the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), stressed the positive results achieved through the robust collaboration between PIPCU and the Gambling Commission. He pointed to this joint effort as a leading illustration of law enforcement successfully cooperating with industry regulators.

PIPCU investigators generated a roster of illicit streaming sites that were generating revenue from gambling promotions. Subsequently, they collaborated with 40 gambling entities licensed by the Gambling Commission, in conjunction with representatives from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), to secure the removal of their advertisements from these platforms.

Ratcliffe went on to say, “We strongly urge all UK advertisers to review the inventory of infringing websites to ensure they are not unintentionally financing unlawful activities.”

Paul Hope, the Gambling Commission’s Executive Director, remarked, “The Gambling Commission is dedicated to guaranteeing that gambling remains free from illegal activities. This is precisely why we request all operators to confirm that digital advertisements are not present on websites that grant unauthorized access to copyrighted material.

“The results of this recent endeavor are self-evident, and we are content with these conclusions.”