Amazon-owned Twitch has recently announced the expansion of its ban on livestreams of gambling content on its platform. This comes after the company previously prohibited streams from four sites when it introduced its new gambling policy in October last year. In an effort to protect its community and address predatory behavior, Twitch has now added two more online casinos, Blaze and Gamdom, to the ban.
The decision to expand the ban on gambling content livestreams was prompted by a controversial incident that occurred on Twitch last year. A streamer was accused of scamming users and fellow content creators out of a significant amount of money in order to fuel their own gambling addiction. This incident sparked protests from prominent streamers, who criticized Twitch for its lax policies towards gambling streams.
In response to the growing pressure and criticism, Twitch took action to address the issue. The company announced that it would prohibit websites featuring slots, roulettes, and dice games that are not licensed in the U.S. or in jurisdictions that provide sufficient consumer protection. While Blaze and Gamdom are not available in the U.S., users can still access them using virtual private networks (VPNs) that mask their locations.
Twitch stated that its primary goal is to protect its community and make the platform safer for everyone. The implementation of the new gambling policy last year led to a significant decrease in gambling viewership, with a drop of approximately 75%. However, Twitch has also observed some new trends and is therefore updating its policy to provide better protection for its users.
As part of its efforts to tackle scams and other harms related to gambling, Twitch also prohibits the sharing of links or referral codes to sites that offer slots, roulette, or dice games. This is aimed at preventing users from falling victim to scams and other negative consequences associated with questionable gambling platforms. However, the platform does allow websites focused on sports betting, fantasy sports, and poker.
Twitch’s decision to expand the ban on livestreams of gambling content demonstrates its commitment to the safety and well-being of its community members. By prohibiting certain websites and restricting the sharing of links to potentially harmful platforms, Twitch aims to protect users from scams and predatory behavior. As the platform continues to evolve its policies, it will be crucial to strike a balance between offering engaging content and maintaining a safe environment for its users.
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