The CGF, or Campaign for Fairer Gambling, has released new data. It shows that illegal sports streams reached 1.6 billion views in Britain in the first half of 2025.
During 2024 and the first half of 2025, 89% of illegal stream views carried advertising for illegal gambling. As a result, illegal sports streams in Great Britain have become a major distribution channel for unlicensed gambling operators. This is according to new research released in January 15.
The CFG commissioned the report, and the technical intelligence platform Yield Sec produced it. They found that British audiences watched 3.1 billion illegal streams of 90 seconds or longer across the top 10 UK sports in 2024. This number rose to 1.6 billion in just the first half of 2025.
Based on data from the first half of the previous year, the analysis suggests illegal gambling operators now control an estimate 9% of £8.2 billion online gambling marketplace of Great Britain.
The research indicates these operators have historically focused on vulnerable audiences. These include underage gamblers, as well as those self-excluded by the Gamstop scheme. Yet, may now be targeting mainstream audiences more widely by illegal streaming platforms.
Gaming Compliance International’s president, Ismali Vali, acquired Yield Sec in November of last year. He said that illegal online gambling in Great Britain is now approaching a 10% market share. It has achieved this by cynically exploiting two vulnerable audiences: children and self-excluded gamblers on the GamStop scheme.
The report highlighted significant security concerns. It stated that 89% of illegal stream views during the period contained malware, spyware, keystroke loggers, and other data-theft mechanisms.
CFG’s founder and funder, Derek Webb, said that Great Britain is becoming a soft touch. They have let organized crime infect the global soft power of UK sports.
