Vietnam’s iGaming search demand fell 26.2% week-on-week from September 7 to 13, according to the Blask Index, during the same period that police referred 74 suspects for prosecution in the XoilacTV illegal sports-streaming case.
The case highlights the growing overlap between unauthorized sports content, gambling advertising and online traffic in Vietnam.
Police Refer 74 XoilacTV Suspects
Police in Hung Yen recommended prosecuting 74 suspects on September 9 over alleged copyright infringement, gambling organisation and distribution of obscene material.
Investigators said the XoilacTV network broadcast 1,529 unauthorized football matches and generated more than VND133 billion, approximately $5 million, through online gambling advertising.
The network operated through two branded projects, 90 Phut and Cakhia. Investigators said both platforms combined unauthorized football broadcasts with embedded gambling advertisements as a major revenue source.
Search Demand Drops During Investigation
The Blask Index recorded a 26.2% decline in Vietnam’s tracked iGaming search demand between September 7 and 13.
The timing coincides with the investigation and prosecution recommendation, raising the possibility that the disruption of a high-visibility gambling promotion network affected online attention toward iGaming.
However, the Blask data does not establish a direct causal link between the XoilacTV case and the decline.
The index measures normalized search attention for tracked iGaming brands and markets in Vietnam. It does not directly measure XoilacTV traffic, gambling advertising exposure or the network’s revenue.
Sports Streaming and Gambling Face Scrutiny
The case demonstrates how unauthorized sports streaming can create distribution channels for gambling advertising while also raising copyright and regulatory concerns.
For operators, affiliates and advertising partners, the investigation underscores the importance of monitoring traffic sources and promotional channels, particularly where sports content and gambling marketing intersect.
The scale of the investigation, involving 74 suspects and more than VND133 billion in alleged revenue, also signals increased enforcement attention toward online networks that combine unauthorized content with gambling promotion.
