Illegal Sports Streaming in the U.S. Fuels $67 Billion Black Market, Report Finds
A recent report by Yield Sec for the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG) highlights that in 2024, over 4.2 billion illegal sports streams in the U.S. fueled a $67 billion illicit online gambling market . Around 82% of these streams featured ads for illegal betting sites, and 84% had malware, spyware, or keyloggers—putting viewers at risk of being targeted for cybercrime . The widespread piracy undermines broadcasters and sports leagues financially, described by CFG founder Derek Webb as “a dark nexus” of global tech crime, and surpasses the size of America’s trade deficit with most countries . The study warns that simply legalizing online betting without strong enforcement won’t curb black‑market growth and urges the U.S. government to take urgent action .
