Bet365 takes heat in Pakistan over cricket livestreaming

UK online sports betting giant Bet365 is in hot water once again for having the audacity to livestream sports matches via its betting app.

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s media outlets got their collective shalwar kameezes in a bunch after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) admitted that the UK-based Bet365 had the contractual rights to stream Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches via its global betting app.

Gambling of any form is strictly illegal in Pakistan, leaving the PCB scrambling to explain (a) why its marquee product has any connection whatsoever with one of the world’s most prominent bookmakers, and (b) why the PCB didn’t appear to know this until the media raised the issue.

The digital streaming rights were sold to Bet365 by Bangalore-based agency ITW Consulting Pvt Ltd, an affiliate of Global Sports Commerce that has a deal to manage media rights for the PCB. The PCB stated that “an international company” had been granted the rights to three PSL seasons and had awarded the livestreaming rights to Bet365 “without following the due approval process.”