Vietnam refers 74 suspects for illegal streaming linked to gambling

The Hung Yen Police in Vietnam requested the criminal prosecution of 74 individuals associated with the illegal sports streaming network XoilacTV. The case, revealed on September 9, involves revenues exceeding VND 133 billion (approximately 5 million USD) primarily obtained through illegal gambling advertising, at a time when the demand for iGaming in the country is showing a notable decrease.

XoilacTV and its Revenue Model Linked to iGaming

The official investigation documents that XoilacTV unlawfully broadcasted 1,529 football matches through its main platform and two brand subprojects, "90 Phut" and "Cakhia". Authorities accuse the operators of combining unauthorized sports broadcasts with online betting advertising inserted into the streams.

The business model identified by the police consisted of:

• Free access to rights-free football matches, generating a high digital audience.
• Insertion of banners and ads from online gambling platforms on the pages and streams.
• Logistical organization through sub-brands to segment the offering and diversify user traffic.

Formal charges include copyright infringement, organization of gambling activities, and distribution of obscene material. The referral to prosecution proposes to judge those involved according to current criminal law.

Impact on iGaming Demand According to the Blask Index

The dismantling of XoilacTV coincided with a significant drop in interest in iGaming in Vietnam. The Blask Index, a tool that measures in real-time the market demand volume for iGaming brands based on normalized search data, reported a 26.2% decrease in the week of September 7 to 13.

The press release suggests a relationship between the police action against the betting advertisement network and the reduction in visibility of the tracked iGaming brands. Although the Blask Index does not directly measure XoilacTV's traffic, it does capture interest in brands and markets linked to online gambling. The recorded decline signals a possible link between the shutdown of illegal advertising channels and the reduced public exposure of gaming offerings.

“Eliminating a gambling promotion network driven by advertising revenues can reduce the visibility of gambling activity detected by tracking tools like Blask,” states the official communication.

Legal Context and Risks for Online Operators

Vietnamese law prohibits the unauthorized broadcasting of sporting events and penalizes the organization of online gambling, particularly when linked to advertising activities. In this operation, the Hung Yen Police acted based on the following charges:

1. Infringement of copyright through unauthorized broadcasting.
2. Organization and promotion of gambling without regulatory permission.
3. Distribution of content deemed obscene.

The operation reinforces vigilance over the convergence between unauthorized sports content networks and player engagement for casinos and online betting houses.

Implications for Demand Monitoring and Market Regulation

The case illustrates the direct relationship between the closure of illegal advertising channels and the dynamics of local iGaming demand. For operators, investors, and regulatory bodies, the key is monitoring how the removal of illicit promotion networks impacts interest volumes, as measured by indices like the Blask Index. A steep decline could reveal certain brands' dependence on illegal channels to attract traffic and clients in restrictive markets.

Platform operators, as well as service providers related to payments or affiliation, must pay attention to changes in brand exposure resulting from such judicial and police interventions.

Considerations for B2B Players in the iGaming Ecosystem

The Vietnamese environment reinforces the need for verification and monitoring mechanisms for both intellectual property protection and to control the promotion of illegal betting through streaming and affiliate networks. The use of measurements like the Blask Index provides B2B companies with a tool to anticipate sudden market fluctuations following enforcement measures.

For international operators, the XoilacTV case serves as a warning regarding the reputational and regulatory risks associated with promotion on unauthorized networks, especially in jurisdictions with restrictive or transitional legal frameworks.