The live streaming company Twitch has announced that it will ban any unlicensed gambling content shown on stream. According to the website, this includes slots, dice, and roulette websites. More sites could be banned later, but for now, the sites included in the ban by the site include Rollbit, Stake, Roobet, and Duelbits. Any websites that promote sports betting, fantasy sports, and poker will still be permitted on the site. This ban will take effect on October 18th according to the site’s policy update press release. More guidelines and rules are expected to be released by the company before that date.
An update on gambling on Twitch. pic.twitter.com/lckNTY9Edo
— Twitch (@Twitch) September 20, 2022
The statement came after some of the biggest streamers on Twitch highlighted the issues and called for a ban on gambling. Streamers including “Pokimane”, “Mizkif”, and Devin Nash threatened to boycott the streaming site during the week of Christmas if the company did not take action. The argument is that “rich creators promoted potentially harmful content to young, impressionable fans.” Twitch quickly responded with the statement that the content would be banned on their site.
Pokimane, Mizkif, and Devin Nash talking about early plans to make a joint statement with other top streamers that unless @Twitch takes action on gambling, they will hit them economically during the holiday season (peak ads).#TwitchNews #TwitchStopGambling pic.twitter.com/pyQPINTOu3
— Zach Bussey (@zachbussey) September 19, 2022
like if twitch should ban gambling
— pokimane ? (@pokimanelol) September 18, 2022
There was not unanimous support across the platform for the ban, but issues in public discourse rarely do have that type of support. The decision has been made now and Twitch will release more information about the ban before it takes effect. We here at Def Pen will update the story if more information gets released.
