The gambling problem on Twitch.tv

Are Twitch users losing hundreds of millions collectively to online casinos?

Twitch has a gambling problem and it’s time to do something about that. Today I started by sending an email to the press team at Twitch.tv with some questions. You can read my questions below. I’ll keep you posted about the response.

Hello Twitch press team,

This is Kim Dotcom and I’m co-writing a story about gambling in the slots section on Twitch. I have a few questions for you in this email and would like to request an interview with a Twitch spokesperson to be used in a mini-documentary.

Can you provide us with statistics about how many streamer hours, viewers and ad placements / views (if any) you have in the Twitch slots category per month and the growth of those numbers over the past 12 months?

Twitch recently changed the rules not to allow affiliate links to gambling sites on stream but Steamers can still show the browser domain and branding of online casinos on stream. What is the difference to Twitch between an affiliate link and a browser link and casino branding on stream? If Twitch is concerned about Twitch users being converted into online casino gamblers why didn’t Twitch close the slots section?

Some gambling streamers now direct viewers to their discord server where they have a more direct way to offer them incentives to gamble on their affiliate link. Is Twitch aware of this? Is linking to a discord server or other third party sites with affiliate links allowed on Twitch?

Does Twitch have any statistics or estimates about how many viewers are below the age of 18 across the platform and can you share that data with us?

It is against the law in multiple jurisdictions to provide access to gambling sites and gambling content to persons under the age of 18. How does Twitch ensure compliance with the law when it comes to age verification? Do you have any method on your site to verify the age of viewers?

Some of the biggest streamers on Twitch are getting paid millions of dollars per months by online casinos to stream gambling content. In one case a casino is paying $60m per year to a streamer. Casinos would not pay such large amounts if it wasn’t profitable for them. It is no secret that the longer a person gambles the more they lose because the casino always has the odds in their favor. Does it concern you that Twitch viewers are converted into online gamblers and collectively potentially losing hundreds of millions to online casinos? And if it doesn’t concern you why not?

Is your parent company Amazon aware of the amount of traffic that the slots section generates on Twitch and has there been any concern or objection to allow gambling content on Twitch, especially to viewers below the age of 18? If not why not?

I have recently made a tweet about the online gambling problem on Twitch and tagged @jeffbezos. I have received dozens of direct messages from Twitch users who have been converted into online gamblers via Twitch with some of them having lost everything they had. These stories are heartbreaking and will be part of our reporting. Is Twitch aware of any Twitch users and their online gambling losses? Does Twitch have any data on how many users have been introduced to online gambling via Twitch? If not why not?

I will email the office of Mr. Bezos separately and share some of those stories with him and ask him for an interview too.

Full disclosure: I’ve been a user and supporter of Twitch for many years. I have participated in streams with several large gambling streamers and therefore have in-depth knowledge about the matter. I plan to start steaming on Twitch myself (no gambling content). I’m not hostile to your service. But the gambling problem needs to be addressed urgently as it is causing harm to many young people and streamers who are getting introduced to online gambling via Twitch.

I’m looking forward to your answers.

Kind regards,

Kim Dotcom