A few years ago, streaming gambling content was a simple affair. Turn on your camera, play some games, and chat with your viewers. It was that easy. Today, that is no longer the case. There are different rules used and enforced by each outlet. Twitch shut the door hard in the face of mounting community pressure. Kick embraced gambling streamers, opening its door fully to them. YouTube, meanwhile, stuck with the middle ground.
For a streamer trying to build a gambling content channel, it pays to fully understand where each platform stands on the issue and what rules you need to follow.
Twitch’s Restrictive Approach
Twitch made substantial changes to its gambling policies in 2022 and 2023. These changes came in the face of serious backlash from the creator community itself, with concerns raised about how younger audiences were being exposed to gambling content and the inherent danger associated with it. To their credit, the platform listened to these concerns and took dramatic action. Twitch banned creators from streaming unlicensed casinos and now prohibits slot, roulette, and dice games from unapproved operators.
The policy isn’t a complete ban on gambling. Twitch does allow some gambling content, specifically from licensed operators in the United States and a list of approved countries. The sites in question must show they have sufficient user protections in place to make the approved list. Sites with poker or sports betting are a separate entity; however, even these come with enhanced restrictions and streaming requirements.
The ban saw many of the sites’ most popular gambling streamers moving on to other platforms. The gambling niche was once a thriving sector on the platform, but has now shrunk considerably. There is still room for a channel to thrive, but the onus is on the creator to prove that the content they show meets the requirements.
Kick’s Permissive Stance
When streamers began to turn their backs on Twitch, Kick saw and seized the opportunity. The site positioned itself as the gambling-friendly place to be. This was unsurprising given that Stake.com, a leading online casino, backs the platform. Kick’s gambling-friendly regulations allow almost all of the content that Twitch banned. For creators who were looking for a new place to build their channel, Kick was the obvious choice.
Kick streamers still have to adhere to age restrictions and correct stream labeling; however, the general rules around showing operator content are more relaxed. As a result, the platform has built a community where gambling streams are embraced.
When streamers made the move over to Kick, they sacrificed their audience size. However, the platform offers a far more lucrative revenue split of 95/5 in favor of the streamer, which not only enticed more gambling streamers to the platform but also combats the audience size differential.
YouTube’s Middle Ground
YouTube takes a more balanced approach than the other streaming platforms. It doesn’t have an outright ban on gambling content. Instead, the platform enforces strict regulations designed to protect users, especially younger viewers. The streamers must also follow a much stricter set of guidelines regarding advertising, including sponsored content and claims about winning strategies.
Streamers can upload pre-recorded content but also live stream on the platform, which provides creators with a more diversified way to create content. As long as gambling content creators follow the guidelines, they still qualify for ad revenue. The benefit of YouTube lies in its VOD library. Unlike live streams that disappear after they end, YouTube videos continue generating views and revenue for years.
Overall, YouTube takes the stance of increased transparency and disclosure over banning content outright. As long as streamers and creators follow the rules, then there will be no problems. That said, creators on the Partner Program face bigger scrutiny, which may put some users off.
Social Casinos: The Lower-Risk Category
Social casinos are seen as lower risk content by all three platforms, as there is no real-money gambling taking place. Creators often provide information on how to get free SC coins at social casinos, meaning there is no direct sales push for people to invest money either.
However, given the nature of gambling and the addictive habits it can create, there are still certain restrictions around social casino content. Age gates and stream labeling are standard. For anybody contemplating streaming gambling content, social casinos are a good place to start.
Finding Your Platform
All three platforms allow gambling content, but each takes a distinctly different approach. The right choice depends on the content focus and where that audience lives. Twitch works best for creators who stream diverse content and are willing to work under strict regulations. YouTube is ideal for creators keen to build a searchable content library. For casino-focused channels, Kick is the clear winner as it offers maximum flexibility and more relaxed controls. Some creators opt for a multi-platform approach. They might stream live on Kick and then post edited highlight videos and other gambling-related content to YouTube.
Regardless of which platform you choose, gambling content comes with heightened responsibility. All three provide compliance tools like age verification systems, content labels, and disclosure templates to help you meet requirements. The platforms have staked out their positions based on business priorities and community values. Success comes from understanding the rules, using the available tools, and creating content your specific audience wants to watch.