If you follow online gaming news, you've probably heard of Twitch. This live streaming platform brings together several million users around the world around a simple concept: streamers broadcast their game sessions live to viewers of all stripes.
Among the most streamed subjects on Twitch, there are of course video games but also online casino games: slot machines, poker, blackjack, etc. Twitch streamers share their game tips and reviews to help others get started or refine their strategy. For viewers, watching streamers on Twitch can serve several purposes: discovering new casino features and games, copying strategies that work, or simply having fun.
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Regulations to avoid abuses
According to statistics, Twitch users are young; more than 75% would be between 16 and 34 years old. Faced with a vulnerable audience that ultimately knows little about the world of offline gambling, Twitch has decided to impose regulations on content relating to online casinos.
Starting October 18, Twitch will no longer broadcast gambling content that originates from platforms registered in jurisdictions that do not guarantee consumer protection or are not licensed by the USA.
This regulation follows several abuses, for the gambling sector in particular: incitement to play with promotional or sponsorship codes, pseudo-objective reviews with streamers sponsored by online casinos or certain illegal gambling sites represented on the platform.
However, Twitch has made it clear that not all gambling will be restricted: poker, eSports and sports betting, for example, will continue to have their own content on the platform.
The rise of online casinos
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the world of online casinos has experienced a boom linked to several factors. First, the closure of physical gambling venues, which has led a whole section of the population who are already players to lean towards online gambling sites.
Then, the acceleration of digitalization which has enabled many reliable and quality platforms to emerge. Furthermore, the constantly renewed efforts of certain players in the industry for more reliable, more transparent and more supervised online gaming for players have also contributed to the growth of online gaming, formerly stamped with a reputation questionable. Finally, social platforms like Twitch have also played a role in raising awareness of internet gambling.
The regulations imposed by Twitch may make people cringe, but they are ultimately in line with industry-led efforts to deliver quality casino games on trusted platforms that care about player well-being and fight against problem gambling.
