It's a case of "If you can't pay the fine, don't do the crime," as one major broadcaster is attempting to clamp down on those using 'dodgy' Fire Sticks to watch premium content for free. More than just getting a slap on the wrist, you could be levied with a massive fine and even potential jail time.
There's been a spike in those who are turning to cracked devices to get the latest blockbuster movies, major sporting events, or binge-worthy TV series without paying the usual fees associated with gaining access to them.
Now, Sky is working with the British police to track down those who think it's okay to stream via Fire Sticks without using them for Amazon's original purpose of playing subscription services you've actually paid for.
Amazon recently issued a similar warning, telling dodgy stick users: "Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore.
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“Through an expanded programme led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition combating digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as offering access to pirated content, including those installed from outside our Appstore."
Delivering the stark warning (via the Daily Mail), a Sky spokesperson reiterated: "At Sky, we invest significantly in protecting our content, which can include taking action against those who watch Sky without paying the proper subscription fee."
"We of course ensure that any action we take is compliant with all applicable laws."
The outlet explains how fragmented rights across numerous broadcasters means the average football fan could be spending around $1,800 just to watch 2027's Champions League on Paramount+.
In an era where we continue to play roulette with which streaming services we decide to keep and which ones get the chop, it's easy to see why some would be tempted by getting free access. But, beware.
Anyone caught using a dodgy Fire Stick could face a £50,000 ($67,000) fine and jail time.
If you're found guilty of distributing this kind of Fire Stick, brace for criminal charges under Section 11 of the 2006 Fraud Act. Aside from the £50,000 fine, there's a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
Even those who are simply using these devices will face thousands in fines and up to a year in prison.
For those who don't believe us, a 29-year-old man from Liverpool was jailed for three years and four months when he pleaded guilty to three fraud offences in November 2024.
There are no official stats on how many people in the UK are using these illegal devices, although the Daily Mail suggests it's up to five million. Given that it's estimated there were 28.8 million UK households in 2025, it shows just how widespread the problem could be.
According to the Sports Industry Report 2026, the majority of 1,002 members of the public and 264 sports professionals questioned think it's fine to use dodgy Fire Sticks.
Somewhat alarmingly, 66% of the pros said they thought illegal streaming was acceptable, even though they're 'interested' or 'very interested' in sport.
Don't think you can evade justice, with Premier League investigators supposedly using forensics, private prosecutions, and police raids to track down this illegal subculture that's generating millions every year while costing the sports industry even more.