Twitch Bans Gambling Streams Amid Rising Fears of Viewer Addiction

Twitch on Wednesday introduced a ban on websites that stream unlicensed roulette, cube, or slots video games because the platform is hit with issues about getting customers hooked on playing.

The resolution by the Amazon-owned firm to tighten its coverage starting October 18 comes after a well-liked streamer scammed followers and friends out of cash to gasoline what he claimed was a playing dependancy.

“Gambling content on Twitch has been a big topic of discussion in the community,” Twitch, recognized for reside streaming of video video games, mentioned in a tweet.

Twitch already bans hyperlinks or referral codes to websites that characteristic slots, roulette or cube video games, however some customers have gotten round that by reside streaming play, the platform mentioned.

Streaming of most playing video games will probably be barred, although it’ll proceed to permit web sites that concentrate on sports activities betting, fantasy sports activities, and poker, Twitch mentioned.

Popular Twitch personalities resembling Pokimane have referred to as for the platform to ban playing, and a tweet by Pokimane repeating that message had greater than 316,000 likes as of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a #TwitchCeaseGambling hashtag has gained traction at Twitter.

A streamer utilizing the deal with ItsSliker posted a video over the weekend saying that he had borrowed cash from pals and colleagues on Twitch, mendacity about his causes however actually utilizing it for playing.

“This is the epitome of a gambling addict,” ItsSliker mentioned within the video.