Sports piracy explodes in UK with 3.6bn illegal streams and rise of black-market bookmakers

• Unlicensed betting has surged over the last four years

• Gambling Commission accused of underestimating issue

The number of illegal streams of sports events in Britain has more than doubled to 3.6bn in the past three years according to a new report, which provides a stark illustration of the challenge facing broadcasters and leagues in combating piracy.

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling’s national 2024-25 report also highlights that there is a symbiotic relationship between sports piracy and unlicensed gambling, with 89% of illegal streams in this country featuring adverts for black-market bookmakers.