The London Metropolitan Police force has been taking strict measures against wagering promotions displayed on illicit streaming platforms, and the results are impressive! A recent analysis revealed a substantial 87% reduction in these advertisements over the last year. This “innovative approach,” spearheaded by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), commenced in 2013. It originally focused on sites providing pirated films, audio content, and interactive entertainment. However, it broadened its scope to address a clandestine problem: authorized gaming enterprises unwittingly financing these unlawful operations through their promotional materials. This practice contravened their own anti-money laundering responsibilities. By 2016, the UK Gambling Commission mandated responsible online advertising as a prerequisite for all gaming providers. They were obligated to guarantee that any entities they collaborated with, such as advertising networks, adhered to the same standards. A crucial element of this program is the Infringing Website List (IWL), a police-sanctioned compilation of copyright-violating websites that gaming operators can cross-reference. This assists them in preventing the inadvertent support of illegal endeavors.

UK law enforcement, specifically the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), collaborated with forty regulated gambling entities to combat illicit content streaming platforms. These platforms were generating revenue through advertisements from gambling firms. The joint effort, undertaken in conjunction with the Gambling Commission and their Infringing Website List (IWL) project, aimed to prevent these companies’ promotional materials from appearing on the unlawful websites.

Detective Superintendent Peter Ratcliffe, leading the PIPCU, highlighted the achievement in a public statement, stating it “showcases the positive results stemming from the robust partnership between PIPCU and the Gambling Commission. It exemplifies law enforcement and industry regulators joining forces effectively.”

He further urged, “We remain dedicated to encouraging all UK-based advertisers to participate in the Infringing Website List, ensuring they do not unintentionally provide financial support to criminal enterprises online.”

Paul Hope, an Executive Director at the Gambling Commission, conveyed, “The Gambling Commission is dedicated to upholding the integrity of the gambling sector. To that end, we request all operators to guarantee they are not featuring digital advertisements on platforms granting unauthorized access to protected content.”

He concluded, “The outcomes of this recent endeavor are evident, and we are content with the results.”