In the wake of recent controversies surrounding gambling on the platform, Twitch is now taking action to cut down on gambling on stream after days of discourse among streamers. Gambling on stream has been an ongoing debate for several years, though it has been front-and-center as a result of accusations streamer Sliker took roughly $300,000 from streamers and viewers for his gambling habits. While the upcoming bans will not target all gambling, they will halt some of the most common forms of gambling seen on stream.
Twitch announced the upcoming bans on its official Twitter, outlining the extent of its bans and policy changes set to hit the platform in October 2022. The changes are meant to target gambling sites offering slots, roulette, and dice games not licensed "in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that provide sufficient consumer protection." It will target specific sites currently frequented by streamers such as xQc and TrainwrecksTV, such as Stake.com, but indicates it may identify other sites in the future which could fall under the new policy changes.
While these will be banned starting October 18, some exceptions will remain on the platform for streamers interested in some gambling. The listed exceptions will be for websites offering fantasy sports, sports betting, and poker, while a full outline of its new policy will be shared ahead of them being instituted in October.
The changes punctuate a debate on the platform which, despite going on for several years among streamers, has intensified in the wake of the Sliker controversy. The English streamer found himself in hot water after several streamers and viewers began noticing they had all been approached for money, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, over the last two years. As mentioned above, it is believed the streamer borrowed over $300,000, though there has been speculation on social media the amount may be higher.
Streamer Mizkif held an intervention on stream for Slicker following the information and accusations coming out, though he has since found himself embroiled in other controversies as a result of accusations of sexual assault aimed at his friend and fellow streamer CrazySlick.
In regard to the policy changes, it will take time to see what the ramifications of these changes are for many streamers and the larger platform. It has already been a heated topic, with streamers such as HasanAbi and TrainwrecksTV regularly debating gambling's place on Twitch and the potential impact it could have on viewers. It would not be surprising to see the debate continue and possibly intensify once the changes go live in October.