(AsiaGameHub) – By: Logan Pierce
The World Cup’s betting frenzy isn’t just a win for legal operators. Black markets are quietly hijacking the action by stealing trusted brand identities. They use phishing and fake domains to trick users into their unregulated networks—no flashy ads, just cold, calculated theft of credibility.
Brand protection firm Corsearch has the numbers. Betting phishing scams rose 118% month-on-month last summer’s sports season. This World Cup, which kicked off 11 June, could see $60B wagered. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime warns illegal volumes might beat legal ones, hijacking the boom operators expected.
Corsearch’s enforcement work tells more. Over half its actions for 12 major betting operators were trademark infringement. It found 162 fake betting platforms on app stores. Simon Baggs of Corsearch says fraudsters move fast to impersonate trusted brands during big sports moments.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) flagged this in February. Its Alvarez & Marsal report said black markets bypass search and social filters using trusted names. Affiliates for non-GamStop casinos took over dormant sites—like a tourist info page or PlayStation news site—to target self-excluded users.
Entain is pushing back. It challenged the UK Intellectual Property Office over trademark rules. The group says unlicensed gambling brands can claim British trademarks, giving them legitimacy even though unlicensed betting is illegal in the UK.
If UK trademark loopholes stay unaddressed, black markets will siphon a majority of this World Cup’s betting dollars.
Author bio: Logan Pierce, independent business researcher specializing in market integrity and corporate governance, contributes to Medium.