Did you notice the brand whose logo is on the stumps (and also on the boundary ropes and outfield) during the #SLvPAK Test?
It's 1xBat.
Never heard of it? Here's a 🧵 on what this brand is.
It's 1xBat.
Never heard of it? Here's a 🧵 on what this brand is.
1xBat is not just an ordinary on-ground sponsor during the #SLvPAK series. It's actually the title sponsor of the series, which is called the 1xBat Cup.
https://twitter.com/OfficialSLC/status/1548286434045358086?s=20&t=jKJ6Y5JwJntrXPXdOFMkvw
If you read my recent piece on online betting ads during the #ENGvIND series broadcast on SonyLIV, you'd know that a company called 1xBet was one of the prominent sponsors of the broadcast. 1xBet, not 1xBat. An 'e' instead of 'a'.
You can read it here:
the-ken.com/moneyball_edit…
You can read it here:
the-ken.com/moneyball_edit…
1xBet is an online betting company that is endorsed by cricketers like Dwayne Bravo and Suresh Raina. It's registered in Cyprus and, as mentioned in the above piece, has engaged in rather dubious activities in the past.
However, just like in India, sports betting is illegal in Sri Lanka. 1xBet could not have sponsored the #SLvPAK series officially. So, it decided to do it via the surrogate advertising route.
You'd assume that 1xBat is a brand that has something to do with cricket bats. But it's actually a sports news site.
Ok, so what's happening here?
Just google 1xBat. You'll see that Google automatically shows you results for 1xBet. That's how surrogate advertising works. It'll take you a while to figure out that there actually is a website called 1xBat.
Just google 1xBat. You'll see that Google automatically shows you results for 1xBet. That's how surrogate advertising works. It'll take you a while to figure out that there actually is a website called 1xBat.
This is a very common strategy used by online betting companies to advertise in countries where betting is illegal. You must have seen ads of DafaNews. It's a news site set up by betting company Dafabet. And it sponsors a few teams from Indian leagues like ISL and Pro Kabaddi.
If you and I can figure this out, you'd assume the authorities can too. But apparently, that's not the case. Such things have been going on in India for at least 18 months, with no action other than a govt advisory. In Sri Lanka, they just seem to have taken it a step further. 🙃
It's more widespread than I thought 😂
https://twitter.com/D11_Venkydhoni/status/1549304059525746693?s=20&t=IHj0bPNXKUfP4ROF_4cB5w
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