Streameast, recognized as the world's largest illegal sports streaming platform, has been shut down following a year-long investigation led by a prominent U.S.-based anti-piracy organization, ACE (Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment). The network, which comprised 80 unauthorized domains, amassed a staggering 1.6 billion combined visits over the past year by offering free access to major global sports, including the Premier League, Champions League, NFL, NBA, and MLB.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of two men in El-Sheikh Zaid, Egypt, on suspicion of copyright infringement. During the raid, authorities seized laptops, smartphones, cash, and multiple credit cards believed to be used in operating the illicit network. Investigators also uncovered a sophisticated money-laundering operation involving a shell company in the UAE. This scheme allegedly laundered advertising revenue totaling £4.9 million ($6.2 million) since 2010, with an additional £150,000 ($200,000) in cryptocurrency. Illicit revenues are also suspected of being used to purchase multiple real estate properties in Egypt.
“Dismantling Streameast is a major victory for everyone who invests in and relies on the live sports ecosystem,” said Ed McCarthy, COO of DAZN Group, a member of the ACE collaboration. “This criminal operation was siphoning value from sports at every level and putting fans across the world at risk.”
The platform provided pirated access not only to major league sports but also to pay-per-view events like boxing and MMA, as well as Formula 1. The site gained mainstream attention in 2024 when a social media clip showed Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James watching an NBA game on Streameast while sitting courtside. The high-profile incident sparked concern among the site's users that the increased visibility would lead to its eventual shutdown.
The action against Streameast is part of a broader global crackdown on illegal streaming. In a separate case in the U.K., Stephen Woodward was sentenced to three years in prison on July 11 after pleading guilty to running three illegal streaming websites that generated £1 million ($1.3 million). The funds were used to purchase luxury items, including a £91,000 ($123,000) Jaguar sports car.