03:52
31 Dec

It has been more than a year since Amazon-owned Twitch clamped down hard on gambling streams.

Many channels with huge audiences were forced to change tack or move to another platform if they wanted to continue with one of the many lucrative sponsorship deals that were in place.

The decision was driven by concerns over the potential harm such content could cause, particularly to younger viewers who might be influenced to engage in gambling activities.

The ban was also seen as a response to increasing regulatory scrutiny over online gambling and was intended to prevent harm from gambling-related content.

It appears to have had limited impact when it comes to “skins” embedded in the gameplay of various titles — most prominently today, that in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

The idea is that these internal marketplaces can be used for external transactions, avoiding Twitch regulations.

This was expressly forbidden in August 2023 and yet the regulation is still being freely flouted four months later.

In Twitch’s community guidelines, a FAQ question reads:

Is sponsorship of skins gambling, such as for CSGO skins, allowed on Twitch?

No, promotion or sponsorship of skins gambling is prohibited under our policy.

Most often, these skins are being used as a sportsbook focussing on esports events with the streamer taking responsibility for winnings being paid out.

Gaming website Dexerto reported earlier this month that not one single channel has faced sanctions since the ban.

This has raised questions about the effectiveness of Twitch’s enforcement mechanisms. Some critics argue that the platform’s reliance on user reports to identify violating content is insufficient, suggesting that more proactive measures are needed.