Star India files FIR against 1xBet for illegal livestreaming of ICC tournament
The Hindu
Bengaluru Cyber Police files FIR against 1xBet for illegal livestreaming of ICC Champions Trophy, violating copyright laws.
The Bengaluru City East’s Cyber Police has registered an FIR against the betting site 1xbet. The Hindu has reviewed a copy of the FIR, which has been filed by Star India Pvt. Ltd., which broadcasts the ICC Champions Trophy tournament. Star has alleged that 1xBet is livestreaming the tournament in spite of not having any license or agreement to do so.
1xBet is a Curaçaoan betting platform with a presence across the world. The site has been banned or blocked in several countries, and the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a bulletin in January that an app for 1xBet was blocked in India. However, the firm has continued sponsoring events here, such as a derby in Mysore in 2023 and an esports tournament last year. Its India website also remains accessible, with an active social media presence.
The FIR seeks arrests of individuals in India involved in the operation of the platform. It has been filed under Sections 43, 66 and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code.
“Any telecast, ... transmission ... or streaming ... without express permission of the company violates the copyright and broadcast reproduction rights of Star,” the company said in its complaint.
1xBet did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment by The Hindu.
Sports betting remains illegal or heavily regulated in most States in India. Fantasy sports apps like Dream11 and MPL — which also reward users putting up real money if their predictions of individual players’ performance transpire — have successfully fought off bans in many parts of the country by distinguishing themselves from betting platforms.
1xBet, which advertises on traditional as well as online media extensively, has not made any such claims, and it is unclear who runs the platform’s India operations.
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