In a complex unfolding dispute surrounding Sportradar, a sports-data company, a peculiar email from Google has sparked fresh allegations. These accusations followed a significant drop in Sportradar's stock value after short sellers claimed the firm profited from illegal gambling in April this year.
The allegations come from Active8Insights, a publication that specializes in activist short selling analysis. Active8Insights' investigation, titled "Betting on a Takedown," revealed evidence that a relatively unknown web and SEO contractor has filed numerous copyright complaints—known as DMCA notices—possibly to obscure reporting about the global betting operator 1xBet and its connections to Sportradar.
Despite both companies denying any involvement, questions linger regarding the identity of the person or entity driving this wave of takedown requests directed at various online publications. Active8Insights tracked these complaints through Google’s notice system and the Lumen Database, discovering a broader pattern of complaints.
One representative from Active8Insights remarked, "We randomly got pulled into this situation. On August 5, we received an email from Google stating that our content was infringing copyright and that a link would be removed from its search index."
1xBet, which has faced scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions for allegedly operating in illegal or grey markets, is currently on a journey to reposition itself as a compliant operator. Simon Westbury, a strategic advisor for 1xBet, emphasized in April the company's commitment to enhancing its regulatory participation and building a more substantial portfolio of local licenses. Notably, in February, 1xBet announced it had acquired a license to operate within Brazil’s regulated market.
Westbury firmly denied any implication that 1xBet was involved in any takedown operations. He stated, "Active8Insights clarifies the limits of its findings and does not claim that 1xBet was responsible for the activities described. We confirm no knowledge of or involvement in that notice and have no further comment."
Similarly, Sportradar disclaims any connection to this situation. A spokesperson stated, "Sportradar did not file or commission the notice in question and has never sought to remove press coverage from search results. We have no relationship with anyone filing copyright takedown notices under the name Alex Gramm."
The spokesperson further stated, "Sportradar takes compliance and its reputation seriously, pursuing every legal avenue to protect both. Following the allegations from short sellers, our Audit Committee initiated an independent review confirming our strong compliance framework. The review concluded the claims were baseless and misrepresentative. Regulatory bodies determine our customers' licensing, not Sportradar."
The investigation by Active8Insights found that the earliest notice linked to this case dated back to November 1, 2013, concerning analysis on a football blog associated with Alex Gramm, who appears unconnected to 1xBet. The noteworthy pattern of complaints regarding 1xBet emerged from October 2025 onward.
A significant finding reported by Active8Insights noted that in an October 2025 complaint, the sender was identified as “Alex Gramm on behalf of 1xBet.” However, 1xBet clarified its lack of ties to Gramm, stating that this information is merely what the filer claimed, not corroborating evidence of authorization from the company.
Active8Insights noted, "We have no evidence that 1xBet, or Sportradar, filed, commissioned, or was aware of this notice, and we do not allege it. What we document is the effect of the filings."
Abuse of Google copyright claims can be relatively simple to execute, leading numerous publications to frequently contest invalid requests.
In detailing the scale of the takedown actions, Active8Insights identified Alex Gramm's name on at least 12 notices targeting 84 URLs over approximately 68 domains. Ten of those notices appear to have contained links beneficial to 1xBet, focusing on its branding and journalistic coverage.
The targets extended beyond Active8 to include major publications like Gaming Intelligence, Estadão, The Hindu, and Play the Game, with requests also linked to media reporting on the April 22 short seller allegations against Sportradar authored by Callisto Research and Muddy Waters.
The controversy continues to stir concerns surrounding Sportradar. DMCA notices aim to allow rights holders to remove infringing content, but allegations have arisen regarding attempts to suppress journalism. Active8Insights highlighted a peculiar DMCA notice purportedly submitted on behalf of Muddy Waters Research, which Muddy Waters has denied.
The backdrop includes allegations from Callisto Research and Muddy Waters that Sportradar has extensive ties to illegal gambling platforms, estimating that about one-third of Sportradar's revenue could derive from such activities, leading to a sharp decline in its stock price following these assertions.
Sportradar has consistently denied these allegations. In an April 28 filing, the company reiterated that contracts require client compliance with licensing laws, even when offshore licenses are involved.
Sportradar claims its compliance measures include verification of licenses, ownership checks, sanctions screenings, and ongoing audits, emphasizing that the discussion is not merely about whether an operator possesses a license but whether such a license is valid and legally recognized where operations occur.
This controversy has escalated beyond the stock market into the realm of litigation, with an investor lawsuit filed on May 18 in the Southern District of New York, alleging securities-law violations by Sportradar during a defined class period. Law firm Robbins Geller is actively seeking investor participation in this proposed class action.
These allegations remain unproven in court, as do the claims by short sellers and the interpretations of the takedowns by Active8Insights. The investigation suggests, however, that efforts were made to obscure the visibility of reports concerning 1xBet and Sportradar online.
