TWITCH BANS ALL GAMBLING REFERRAL CODES & LINKS

Amazon-owned streaming platform Twitch has now implemented a ban on content featuring gambling referral codes and links. 

In a statement, the platform explained it was introducing the ban to prevent scams and harms “created by questionable gambling services that sponsor content.” 

Effective immediately, links and referral codes for sites offering dice, roulette, or slots, are prohibited across the platform, and Twitch says it will be monitoring content and introducing further updates if necessary. 

Over the past year or so, Twitch has become an important platform for gambling streamers and affiliates, like Tyler “Trainwrecks” Niknam, who promotes an online casino with a  Curaçao license, and has amassed an impressive 1.5m subscribers. 

However, in the past few months, casino affiliates using Twitch have come under increasing scrutiny, with allegations of fraud and other illegal practices – for example, using fake balances to gamble and give the impression of big wins. 

Last month, Slovakia went as far as taking unilateral action and banning Twitch completely, after its national media agency found content that violated the country’s advertising laws. 

Responding to Twitch’s move, Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the United States-based National Council on Problem Gambling, said: “Twitch has taken a good first step to help protect young and vulnerable users by preventing the sharing of links to gambling websites. However, much more must be done. Everybody should be concerned that Twitch still allows the broadcast of unregulated and illegal gambling and that sites like Stake and Roobet pay popular streamers to play the casino games on their channels. It is incumbent on Twitch to focus on the health of their users, especially young people who are susceptible to developing a gambling addiction thanks to what they are exposed to in the streaming platform.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Although gambling streamers are sure to protest the move, it seems the potential liability of allowing gambling content was too much for Amazon to stomach. After all, video gaming and esports are by far and away the most important sector for Twitch, and it does seem illogical to risk more national bans and public backlash for the sake of gambling streamers.