A recent email from Google has sparked new allegations in an already complex dispute involving Sportradar, a sports-data company whose stock took a hit after accusations of benefitting from illegal gambling surfaced in April 2023.
Active8Insights, a publication focused on activist short selling, claims it has uncovered evidence that a little-known web and SEO contractor has been filing numerous copyright complaints, known as DMCA notices, to obscure information about the global betting operator 1xBet while hiding any links between it and Sportradar.
An Active8Insights representative shared with iGB, "We randomly got pulled into this situation. On 5 August, we received an email from Google indicating that we had apparently infringed on copyright, leading to our link being removed from its search index."
After investigating Google’s takedown requests through its notice system and the Lumen Database, Active8Insights reported a broader trend, although both 1xBet and Sportradar strongly deny involvement in these copyright filings.
1xBet has faced scrutiny in several regions, accused of operating in illegal or grey markets but has begun repositioning efforts to demonstrate that it is increasingly working in licensed markets. Strategic adviser for 1xBet Simon Westbury told iGB back in April that they are focused on expanding their local licenses in regulated regions, highlighting their acquisition of a license to operate in Brazil's regulated market in February.
Westbury refutes any insinuation that 1xBet is linked to a campaign of takedown requests, stating, "Active8Insights is clear about the limits of what it can establish and does not allege that 1xBet was responsible for the activity described. 1xBet can confirm that it had no involvement in or knowledge of that notice. We have no further comment."
Sportradar has also distanced itself from the allegations, with a spokesperson stating, "We did not file or commission the notice in question and have never sought the removal of such press coverage from search results. Sportradar has no relationship with, or knowledge of, anyone filing copyright takedown notices under the name Alex Gramm."
The spokesperson further emphasized Sportradar's commitment to compliance, stating that their Audit Committee had commissioned a third-party review confirming a robust compliance framework and that the allegations are unfounded, presenting a misleading narrative about the company. The spokesperson added, "The licensing of our customers is determined by the regulatory bodies in the jurisdictions where those clients operate, not by Sportradar."
Active8Insights noted that the earliest matching notice it tracked dates back to 1 November 2013, related to football analysis on a blog belonging to someone named Alex Gramm, who does not appear to have any direct ties to 1xBet. The investigation indicated a notable pattern emerging from takedown requests starting in October 2025, one of which identified the sender as "Alex Gramm on behalf of 1xBet."
While this suggests a connection, Active8Insights clarified that this is not evidence of authorization but simply a declaration by the filer. The spokesperson commented, "We have no evidence that 1xBet, or Sportradar, filed, commissioned, or knew about this notice, and we do not allege it. What we can document is what the filings did."
Active8Insights claims the name Alex Gramm appears on at least 12 takedown notices affecting 84 URLs across approximately 68 domains. They suggest that 10 of these notices seemed to serve the interests of 1xBet, targeting its branding, marketing materials, or journalism.
On 27 April, one notice sought the removal of 18 URLs across 14 domains, which included publications such as Gaming Intelligence, Estadão, The Hindu, and various gambling-related outlets. Notably, much of this content covered reports from Callisto Research and Muddy Waters, which raised questions about Sportradar’s connections to gambling operators.
Both Callisto Research and Muddy Waters accused Sportradar of deep ties with black and grey-market gambling entities. Callisto suggested that about a third of Sportradar’s revenue could be linked to illicit operations; Muddy Waters echoed similar claims. Following these allegations, Sportradar's stock fell by around 20%.
Sportradar has categorically denied these claims, asserting that their contracts require customers to secure necessary licenses, which they emphasize must be compliant with the laws of applicable jurisdictions, including offshore licenses from locales like Anjouan and Curaçao.
The complexity of the situation is highlighted by the ongoing legal actions. An investor filed a class-action lawsuit, Smale vs Sportradar Group AG et al, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on 18 May, alleging securities violations during a specified period. Robbins Geller law firm is inviting investors to join this class action based on claims that Sportradar and its executives violated the Securities Exchange Act.
While these allegations remain unproven in court, they form part of a significant narrative concerning both Sportradar and 1xBet. While Active8Insights’ investigation does not establish that either Sportradar directed anyone to erase information or that 1xBet authorized filings made by Alex Gramm, it provides a documented trail suggesting attempts were made to suppress reporting related to both companies online.
