Gambling content has been a point of contention on Twitch this year, with some high-profile creators taking lucrative sponsorship deals to play slots on stream.
But that content largely evaporated following a post by the platform on social media. Implicating a policy update coming on Oct. 18, the platform released a statement saying it planned to “prohibit streaming of gambling sites that include slots, roulette, or dice games that aren’t licensed in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that provide consumer protection.”
This restriction prevented many of the established gambling sponsors like Stake, Rollbit, Duelbits, and Roobet from being streamed on the platform.
The policy did not outlaw gambling content entirely, but the largest gambling sponsors are no longer allowed to promote on the platform. Streamers can still broadcast sports betting, fantasy sports, and poker.
Is gambling content banned on Twitch?
Gambling content, as it was previously broadcast in high volume through unlicensed entities, is banned on Twitch.
The sponsored gambling streams that viewers have seen popular creators like Trainwreck, xQc, and Adin Ross take part in are no longer an option. Stake, which is one of the most active gambling sponsors among top streamers, is not streamable content anymore.
In the Safety section of Twitch’s Community Guidelines, the platform specifically banned Stake, Rollbit, Duelbits, and Roobet, adding that even free social versions of those online casinos were not allowed. Twitch also said that other domains may be added to that list moving forward.
“We consider many factors in determining whether a site is allowed, including whether the site includes safety protections, such as deposit limits, waiting periods, and age verification systems,” Twitch said. “We also take into account whether streamers use or encourage VPNs to evade geoblocking, and whether the site is licensed in the US or other jurisdictions that provide sufficient consumer protections.”
The policy specifically says that websites “focused on” fantasy sports, sports betting, and poker are still acceptable content.
