Twitch Takes a Stand: Expanding Ban on Gambling Content to Protect Users

Twitch, the popular live-streaming platform owned by Amazon, has announced an expansion of its ban on gambling content in an effort to protect its community and address concerns over predatory behavior. The company stated that it will now prohibit streams of online casinos Blaze and Gamdom, adding to the four sites it had already banned last October when its new gambling policy first came into effect.

The decision to implement stricter regulations around gambling streams comes after a controversy erupted on the platform last year involving a streamer who was accused of scamming users and other content creators out of significant amounts of money to fuel their gambling addiction. This incident sparked a wave of protest from prominent streamers who criticized Twitch’s lax policies on gambling-related content.

In response to the mounting pressure and the need to protect its users, Twitch pledged to prohibit websites that offer slots, roulettes, or dice games and are not licensed in the U.S. or other jurisdictions with sufficient consumer protection. Although Blaze and Gamdom are not available in the U.S., some users have been using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the restrictions.

Since the introduction of the new policy last year, Twitch reported a substantial decline of about 75% in gambling viewership. However, the company has also noticed some emerging trends in the gambling content space, prompting it to update its policy further to provide enhanced user protection.

In addition to banning the streaming of gambling content from certain sites, Twitch has now also prohibited the sharing of links or referral codes to questionable gambling sites that offer slots, roulette, or dice games. This move is aimed at curbing potential scams and other harmful activities related to gambling.

While these restrictions may affect some streamers who were previously engaged in gambling content, Twitch has clarified that it will continue to allow streaming related to sports betting, fantasy sports, and poker, provided they comply with the platform’s guidelines and relevant regulations.

Twitch’s decision to expand its ban on gambling content demonstrates the company’s commitment to fostering a safer environment for its users and tackling predatory behavior within its community. By implementing these measures, Twitch aims to protect its content creators and viewers from potential harm while still permitting other forms of responsible and regulated betting content on its platform.