The Impact of Live Sports Broadcasting on Digital Piracy and its Societal Consequences

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of digital piracy on illegal gambling activities in the context of live sports broadcasting. When previously free content becomes restricted, users may resort to illegal channels to access the content. This research analyzes the relationship between digital piracy and illicit gambling by examining a specific event in South Korea where a media company introduced a subscription model for English Football League broadcasts. The study finds a positive correlation between increased visits to illegal sports broadcasting websites and higher engagement in illegal gambling. These findings contribute to our understanding of the consequences of digital piracy and provide insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers.