Streaming giant Twitch has announced that it will be cracking down on streams promoting gambling following threats of boycotts from various streamers with a huge fanbase.
While Twitch will not ban all types of gambling sites, it did say that it will crack down on streams that will provide links to or referral codes to sites such as Stake.com, Rollbit.com, Duelbits.com and Roobet.com. These, and others, include slots, roulettes or dice games that are not licensed to operate in the U.S. and other jurisdictions.
The streaming platform noted that it had already banned the sharing of links to such gambling sites, but still there were some streamers who were able to "circumvent" the rules. These streamers, Twitch said, were able to "expose our community to potential harm."
The streaming site added that it will implement the said ban once it releases a policy update next month on Oct. 18. It then promised to "share specifics" with regards to the new rules so that all streamers on the platform will know what to expect once the new policy is enacted.
It's worth noting that Twitch is not banning websites focusing on fantasy sports, poker, and sports betting. Streamers will continue to be able to share links to such websites.
What "potential harm" could happen without the ban?
To those who are not in the know, streamers have been struggling with the issue of gambling for years, Ars Technica noted.
Recently, a streamer named Sliker admitted to having a serious to gambling addiction, betting on the potential outcomes of "CS:GO" matches. The streamer admitted to successfully soliciting more than $200,000 from streamers and viewers under false pretense Sliker claimed that he had a temporary issue with money and that he needed help, but the truth is that he used the donations to fund his gambling habit.
"I don't know what to say to the people I borrowed from," the streamer said. "This is the epitome of gambling. I want to say don't touch it."
Some well-known Twitch streamers such as Imane "Pokimane" Anys, Devin Nash, and Matthew "Mizkif" Rinaudo then had a lengthy joint stream where they discusses the issue of gambling on the platform.
Nash, who had left Twitch in months prior due to the platform's inaction on the issue, noted how gambling is "damaging" to young users and "bad" for advertisers. Ultimately, the ex-Twitch streamer said it lowers the platform's quality as a whole.
