Streaming Platform Kick To Restrict Access To Gambling Content

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 27, 2024

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Kick, a popular streaming platform, is revising its gambling policies to address concerns about harmful and exploitative content. Beginning February 1, 2025, only gambling content from approved platforms requiring ID verification will be permitted. The move aims to ensure that viewers, especially younger audiences, are protected from potentially predatory gambling practices.

This change builds on Kick’s ongoing efforts to enhance user safety. In an update from yesterday, the platform introduced several policy changes, including the ability for streamers to limit chat access to users registered for a set period. These measures are part of a broader initiative to create a safer and more controlled streaming environment.

Gambling has been a significant category on Kick, ranking just behind “Just Chatting” and IRL streams in popularity. Many high-profile streamers, such as xQc and Trainwrecks, have made gambling a staple of their content. However, critics have raised concerns about the influence of such streams on impressionable viewers, particularly younger ones. The updated rules aim to curb these issues by restricting access to gambling platforms that lack proper age-verification systems.

Kick’s ties to online gambling run deep. The platform was co-founded by Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, who also co-founded the online gambling site Stake. Stake has been a central focus of Kick’s gambling streams, with some alleging that the platform’s policy changes favor Stake over competing platforms. 

Popular streamer Xposed expressed frustration over the new rules, accusing Kick of trying to monopolize gambling content on its platform by prioritizing Stake. He criticized the decision on social media, arguing that it pressures streamers to promote Stake exclusively, reducing visibility for those who use other gambling platforms.

In addition to limiting what can be streamed, the policy reportedly affects streamers’ discoverability. Streamers who broadcast gambling content from non-approved platforms will not appear on Kick’s front page or in recommended sections, making it harder for them to grow their audiences. Xposed and others have labeled the updated policy as “Twitch 2.0,” referencing similarities to the stricter policies enforced by Twitch.

While some applaud Kick’s steps to regulate gambling content and protect younger viewers, others see the policy as a restrictive measure benefiting the platform’s co-founders. With gambling remaining a divisive topic, the coming months will likely reveal how these changes impact streamers, viewers, and the platform’s overall reputation.