How they sneak up on us with sports betting: Maldita.es on Twitch about addictions and the influence of betting houses

Malbert: “They have called me to promote even girdles”

As it could not be otherwise, the influencers had to be present in the debate and, for this, the content creator Malbert joined the Maldita.es live stream on Twitch . The influencer said that he has been observing for some time how certain profiles with millions of followers on social networks take advantage of their visibility to advertise scams and fake luxury products. 

He himself reported that on multiple occasions deceptive advertising brands have approached him to promote products that had nothing to do with their audience: “They have even called me to promote girdles,” he said with a laugh. Furthermore, Malbert was critical of those influencers «with little ethics» who decide to enter this system of misleading advertising and defended that they were «no victims.»

What is a tipster and what’s behind it?

Focusing on sports betting and the influencers who promote the Telegram channels where they take place, Daniel, from the @TipsterTrust channel, joined the Maldita.es Twitch live . As he explained, tipsters are people who are dedicated to studying sports matches, making predictions, looking for the best bets for them and offering, both free and paid, this information to their followers. 

Although within this business there are forecasters who carry out their sports studies professionally, Daniel said that the percentage of those who dedicate themselves to scamming their followers and profiting from this business is “much higher” by appearing, as he explained, a life of luxury to attract more people. In fact, Maldita.es included in its live the testimony of Ramón (not his real name) who told how he was deceived by a tipster who claimed to have privileged information in sports betting and who charged 1,000 euros for a service of 30 predictions in the ping pong of table. Given this testimony, Daniel explained that, normally, all the people who enter this business do so with false illusions thinking that it is an easy way to make money.

Different legislations depending on the autonomous communities

Data could not be missing in this live and that is why Sergio Sangiao , coordinator of Maldito Dato at Maldita.es , joined Clara Jiménez Cruz and Carlos Hernández-Echevarría to tell about the different legislations that govern each region of Spain . The data shows that in cities like Madrid the number of betting houses is eight times greater than in Barcelona (416 compared to 51). 

The role of the police in the fight against sports scams: education and prevention

The authority was also present at the inauguration of the Maldita.es Twitch channel . Police officer Ana Riveiro told live how the State Security Forces and Corps fight against crime and fraud crimes through education in schools. Riveiro, who belongs to the Master Plan for Coexistence and Improvement of Security in Educational Centers and Their Environments , dependent on the Central Citizen Participation Unit, explained that for young people to protect themselves on the Internet, all they have to do is follow the advice » of a lifetime”: “The typical do not talk to strangers here also applies,” he indicated. 

As he pointed out, the problem in this type of crime is that when you turn to the police it is already “too late”, therefore, Riveiro emphasized the importance of prevention through education in the digital environment. 

The Gambling Law and possible infractions committed during sports gambling scams

To address sports betting and its regulation in the legal field, the sports law expert lawyer, Irene Aguiar, joined the Maldita.es Twitch . As she explained to viewers, until last November, the area of ​​Internet sports betting advertising was deregulated . However, currently the penalties for those who commit this type of crime can reach 5 million euros.

Facu Díaz: “I have had several experiences with sports betting advertising”

The presenter and communicator Facu Díaz also wanted to join the first broadcast of Maldita.es on Twitch to relate his experience around betting house advertising. According to what he said, various companies offered him to introduce sports betting advertisements into the broadcast of “Don’t get involved in politics,” the podcast he makes with comedian Miguel Maldonado. And, although he repeatedly rejected the offer, he emphasized the insistence of these advertising companies.

@SrCheeto: «I have friends who have had problems with gambling and for me it is a very big scourge»

The YouTuber @Srcheeto also accompanied Facu Díaz during the broadcast to relate his experience with advertising by betting houses on the Internet. According to the content creator, from his personal perspective, it is necessary for YouTubers to distance themselves from these types of ads due to the danger they pose to users with a gambling addiction , something that, according to him, he has experienced very closely.

How is covert advertising of the game on social networks being combated?

Some actions are also taken by institutions to combat covert gambling advertising on social networks . However, as Mikel Arana, general director of Gambling Regulation, explained in the live broadcast, the main problem that arises is “the immensity of the Internet” and the speed at which it advances.

Despite the actions that are being carried out by the Gambling Regulation, Arana pointed out that, for the moment, it is not their responsibility to sanction betting houses that establish limits on profits since it is “a private contract between the betting house and the bettor.”

FACUA’s response to covert sports betting advertising on Instagram accounts

In relation to the last note commented by Mikel Arana and on behalf of consumers, FACUA spokesperson, Rubén Sánchez , highlighted that “if it is understood that between the betting house and the bettor there is a consumption relationship, this limit on the winner could mean an abusive clause due to imbalance between the parties.” 

Likewise, Sánchez explained the reasons for the complaint that FACUA filed with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs for the covert advertising of sports betting on the Instagram accounts of influencers.

Guillermo Martín: “They take advantage of the fact that my account is a pharmacy and I have more reliability to offer me this type of advertising”

One of the last guests who stopped by the Maldita.es Twitch livestream was Guillermo Martín, the tweeter responsible for the @Farmaenfurecida account . As he explained, there are many advertising companies that have offered him to promote this type of covert scams, also taking advantage of the credibility that he projects due to his profession .

The effect of online gambling advertising on minors

To close the debate, journalist Silvia Oramas and Eulalia Alemany , technical director of the Foundation for Help Against Drug Addiction (FAD) , joined the debate to analyze both the effect of gambling advertising on minors and young people and the location of the Betting houses near schools.