Danish Gambling Authority fines Twitch streamer for illegal gambling promotion

The Danish regulator’s action marks the first reported case of this kind

Denmark's gambling regulator, Spillemyndigheden, has taken a firm stance against illegal gambling promotion on Twitch, resulting in the first reported case of its kind.

The unnamed Danish Twitch streamer faced a fine of DKK10,000 (approximately $1,453) after being found guilty of advertising unlicensed gambling websites on the popular streaming platform.

The investigation by Spillemyndigheden uncovered the streamer advertising unlicensed gambling operators during live streams earlier this year. Local authorities, concurring with the regulator's findings, deemed the streamer's actions to be in violation of Danish law.

In response to the incident, Spillemyndigheden stated: “If a gambling operator does not hold a license to provide gambling in Denmark, the operator must not market its gambling offers in neither print, electronic, nor social media.” 

This marks the first time Spillemyndigheden has taken such action against a Twitch streamer for illegal gambling promotion.

Notably, the crackdown on illegal gambling advertising on Twitch comes after the platform itself banned unregulated gambling streams in October 2022. However, it is worth highlighting that in this case, it was a national gambling regulator that initiated the punitive action, not Twitch directly.

Before Twitch's ban on unlicensed gambling streams, the “Slots” category had soared to become one of the top ten most-watched on the platform. Following the ban, its viewership plummeted drastically.

As of September 1 this year, “Slots” ranks 22nd with nearly 31,000 viewers. A new category, “Casino Jackpot,” has emerged, primarily catering to viewers in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.

Twitch expanded its gambling ban recently by adding Gamdom and Blaze to its list of prohibited websites, bringing the total to six banned operators since implementing the ban in October 2022. The platform is selective in allowing gambling companies and considers factors like licensing and consumer protection measures. 

This move comes after a scandal involving a streamer's gambling addiction and has led some top Twitch talent to migrate to the more permissive Kick platform.

Additionally, Twitch has recently declared its prohibition of CS:GO skin gambling sites on the platform, further emphasizing its commitment to combating unregulated gambling content.

The $1,453 fine may prompt the anonymous streamer to consider alternative platforms like Kick, which has gained traction among prominent gambling streamers.

Notably, Kick was established by Stake.com, a leading crypto casino, offering streamers fewer rules and a favorable pay structure. Some Twitch streamers, including controversial figures like Adin Ross, have migrated to Kick for a more permissive environment.

Looking for your next crypto casino? Check out: Bitcasino or FortuneJack.

Written by Silvia Pavlof

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