Twitch: The end of an era of casino streamers?

The past two months have seen the implementation of new regulations for games of chance on Twitch. These regulations have been much awaited by all. However critics believe that the platform is years too late in combatting the mostly illegal casino streams and it is doing so only half-heartedly. However, there has recently been an evident decrease in users on Twitch. But is Twitch really not attractive any more for casino streamers?

In September of last year we had reported about the fact that Twitch wants to restrict casino streams. Meanwhile the new regulations for gambling have come into force. Since then many casino streamers have turned their back on the platform and they have started looking for alternative streaming platforms. Besides this, it is expected that many other large streamers will be leaving Twitch soon.

Has Twitch lost contact with reality?

Over the past weeks and months much has happened in the industry of gambling streams. After Twitch updated its terms and conditions of use in October, the streaming of gambling content become evidently unattractive. Meanwhile it is for example forbidden that streamers share recommendation codes for gambling providers. Besides this, advert banners which contain a corresponding link are also forbidden, even mentioning single providers by name is forbidden.

The successful Twitch-Streamer Trainwreckstv is accusing the platform of only contributing a small share and also that in principle it is only functioning as a “Website-Host”. The platform is however demanding half of the streamers’ income. The streamer states further that Twitch “has lost contact with reality” and it has built its imperium on the streamers’ backs.

Many casino streamers switch over to competitors

Since the terms and conditions of use have been updated, many successful streamers on Twitch are looking for a better alternative. The stricter regulations also led to the fact that forbidden gambling sites may not be streamed. Among these is also the successful Crypto-Casino Stake.com. Many gambling streamers such as xQc or Corinna Kopf had signed deals running into millions with the Crypto-Casino. In October we had already raised the issue in an article about who is actually the casino streamer Corinna Kopf. Recently some famous streamers have switched to DLive or have made new deals with YouTube.

DLive is a Blockchain-based streaming platform, which has been on the market since 2017. In 2019, the provider was taken over by the company Rainberry, Inc. The largest advantage for the streamers here is that the major part of the income is handed out to the publisher (over 90 %). Recently the streamers were only getting paid 50 % of the income on Twitch.

Conclusion

It seems that Twitch has relied on its clearly existing monopoly for a long time. Many creators have long criticised the way they are treated by Twitch. After the Terms and Conditions have been updated, many successful streamers seem to have pulled the plug on Twitch. Of course once the large streamers disappear, the viewers will also gradually turn to the competitors. If Twitch will not intervene fast, the “Twitch-Hype” will soon near the end.

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