One of the world’s most-watched live YouTube channels is drawing scrutiny from regulators after heavily promoting betting to young people during World Cup broadcasts.
Brazil’s CazéTV has attracted blue-chip sponsors and even viewers abroad hunting for VPN workarounds, since it’s the only YouTube channel in the world where fans can watch all 104 matches for free. It’s breaking YouTube audience records, challenging traditional broadcasters and reshaping how millions of young Brazilians watch live sports.
Its on-air crew has also delivered a running commentary on odds and wagers during the World Cup, igniting a controversy that’s culminating in new government restrictions on advertising to be introduced Friday.
Banter about gambling has become familiar to viewers in Europe and the US as betting businesses become key sponsors of sports broadcasts. One Washington Post report this year measured an average of one betting ad every four minutes on televised US games. Critics say the advertising blitz is sullying sports, pointing to some high-profile arrests of US athletes accused of manipulating statistics to influence betting markets.
