The London Metropolitan Police targeted wagering promotions displayed on illicit streaming platforms, and a subsequent inquiry revealed a substantial 87% reduction in these advertisements over the preceding year. This enforcement action appears to be highly effective!
The examination was conducted by whiteBULLET, an organization specializing in ensuring brand safety online and promoting transparency in digital advertising on piracy-related websites. They possess extensive expertise in this domain!
This initiative commenced in 2013 with “Operation Creative,” spearheaded by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) within the City of London Police. Their objective? To combat unlawful websites distributing pirated films, television programs, literary works, musical recordings, and video games.
Another crucial aspect of this operation involves ensuring that licensed gaming enterprises do not inadvertently provide funds to these illicit websites, which would constitute a violation of the anti-money laundering regulations stipulated in the Gambling Act of 2005.
In October 2016, the UK Gambling Commission issued a clear directive: responsible digital marketing is imperative for all gambling operators. They are obligated to exert every effort to ensure that all entities they collaborate with adhere to the same regulations.
To further strengthen these efforts, they introduced the Infringing Website List (IWL). This police-sanctioned database is regularly updated with websites that infringe upon copyright laws. Gambling operators can access this list and ensure they avoid any problematic sites.
Detectives within the London Metropolitan Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) generated a roster of websites illicitly broadcasting content. These platforms were generating revenue by displaying promotions from wagering enterprises. Collaborating with 40 of these firms, all authorized by the UK Gambling Commission and included in the Infringing Website List (IWL), PIPCU successfully disrupted the flow of promotional funds to these unlawful streaming platforms.
In a media statement revealing the operation’s outcomes, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Ratcliffe, who heads PIPCU, stated: “This serves as an excellent illustration of law enforcement collaborating with industry overseers to address criminal behavior. The effectiveness of this endeavor is a testament to the robust partnership between PIPCU and the Gambling Commission.”
He further remarked, “We will persist in urging all UK advertisers to join the Infringing Website List to guarantee they are not unintentionally financing criminal websites.”
Paul Hope, an Executive Director at the Gambling Commission, added: “The Gambling Commission is dedicated to excluding criminal elements from gambling. This is the rationale behind our request for all our operators to ensure they are not promoting their services on illicit websites. We are highly satisfied with the results of this action, which are self-evident.”
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