The gambling industry often occupies a complex moral landscape that balances individual freedom with the need to protect people from potential harm. This nuance is often lost on those who do not partake in gambling activities and struggle to understand its appeal.
Despite this grey area, it is crucial to acknowledge that the gambling sector does not operate in a moral vacuum. I adhere to a personal motto in my work: I strive to engage in enjoyable activities alongside individuals who act ethically. This philosophy has served me well, guiding me back to a straightforward approach whenever I have strayed too far.
Clarity is pivotal in my life and work, starting with the truth and avoiding deceit at all costs. While personal challenges occasionally complicate this path, I generally prioritize simplicity. A reminder sticks with me: "If you never lie, you never have to remember anything," a reality I appreciate, particularly since my memory is less than stellar.
Unfortunately, not everyone shares this straightforward philosophy. Recently, I have observed numerous complaints about gambling content being copied from original websites. Many reputable news outlets cite their sources or link back to original articles, fostering a healthy exchange of information. However, this is not the case when it comes to some sites that blatantly steal content.
These B2B gambling content sites are not merely aggregating information; they are engaging in actual theft. Content is scraped and partially restructured by artificial intelligence elsewhere without any acknowledgment of the creator. Entire websites can be cloned, rebranded, and monetized by others who do not engage in the hard work that journalism entails.
The process of creating news can be expensive and labor-intensive. From conducting research to making phone calls and engaging with sources, skilled journalism involves training, creativity, and persistence. Conversely, stealing content is made alarmingly simple, often requiring nothing more than AI technology and a lack of ethics.
In recent years, the B2B landscape has become muddied as many news portals adopt affiliate models. Yet, this is not the primary concern; rather, it is the emergence of numerous affiliate sites appearing weekly that rely on stolen content due to a lack of resources or creativity. These sites prioritize quick profits over genuine effort, embodying a troubling trend within the industry.
Terms like "bad actors" are often used to describe unethical practices, and here, this label applies. If one were to create a caricature of such behavior, the description might ironically invoke the name of actor Steven Seagal.
Zoltán Tűndik of Hipther fame shared an observation of this very issue, noting that when he managed EuropeanGaming.eu, they faced numerous copycats. Initially, these sites would credit their origins, but he later encountered complete ripoffs without acknowledgment — a reflection of how quickly and efficiently AI can replicate content.
Mihail Criclevit from OnlyiGaming echoed this experience, initially choosing to monitor the situation but eventually finding his entire website cloned. He described the theft in detail: every element replicated, down to icons and colors, with no creativity or originality. What’s more alarming is the fact that his content, which depends on user input for updates, was duplicated in its entirety.
Mihail identified the offender, who was a member of a professional forum. However, when he raised the issue, he was dismissed for being "too negative," leaving him with little recourse to protect his intellectual property.
This problem extends beyond the gambling industry, impacting various sectors worldwide. It raises a fundamental question for those engaging in such behavior: What do you aspire to be? Stealing content doesn't come from a place of need; it’s not a noble act of desperation. Instead, these thieves engage in a form of cybercrime reminiscent of playground mischief, devoid of any semblance of professionalism.
When asked about their profession, I doubt that these individuals claim to be thieves. Instead, they likely craft a more polished persona, avoiding the unsavory truth that their actions reflect. The gambling industry is intricately connected, and those who partake in unethical practices should be prepared to face their peers when they come face-to-face at industry events.
