Cryptocurrency and online gambling are a match made in heaven. Blockchain technology makes both regular gaming and gambling safer, cheaper, and more convenient for everyone involved, which is why it’s been on the rise for a while. Even the megastar of live streaming, PewDiePie, has moved to DLive, a platform based entirely on blockchain technology.
Crypto gambling platforms have been popping up everywhere, so it was only a matter of time before people on live-streaming platforms like Twitch answered the call. Lately, many of them have been playing casino games and placing sports bets by primarily using cryptocurrencies.
The games they go for include roulette, blackjack, Plinko, and, most notably, slots. Popular slot titles include Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Money Train, Razor Shark, Jammin’ Jars, and Reactoonz.
The Uprise of Crypto Gambling
The online gambling industry was one of the first to fully adopt cryptocurrencies, especially the major ones like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. At the same time, some businesses have chosen to create crypto-exclusive online casinos that don’t use fiat currencies at all.
Both casinos and players have been pleased with the results. Crypto makes implementing the whole payment system easier and cheaper. At the same time, punters get their money faster and can also claim bigger and more rewarding bonuses.
According to the latest stats, as much as 47% of online gambling operators accept both fiat and crypto, showing that gambling using digital currencies is not a mere fad. What’s more, fiat betting went from 88% of total bets in 2020 to only 65% a year later and then even further in 2022 — to 54%.
As expected, Bitcoin is used the most — it comprises as much as 80% of crypto gambling. Ethereum comes in second with 10%, while Litecoin only carries 6%.
The whole industry eventually reached Twitch and other live-streaming platforms as crypto gambling businesses approached streamers to get them to promote their services. The streamers themselves were largely happy to enter the booming market due to the demand for such content.
In fact, the content has seen so much popularity that Twitch has started going after the industry with specific bans targeting unlicensed sites, as reported by Wired.
What Are the Most Popular Gambling Games on Twitch?
Crypto gambling live streamers play a very diverse range of games and deal with various forms of gambling in their videos. Some of the more widespread ones include:
- Sports betting — This is one of the most popular formats that’s been turning legal in many countries, including the US. Using crypto to place bets makes things even easier, as transactions are faster and cheaper while the limits are higher. It’s a popular format among streamers since they also get to comment on sports matches in real-time, as long as they are betting live. You can learn more about the practice in a detailed guide on crypto betting explained at Bookmaker.bet.
- Plinko — Plinko is an arcade game that has eventually found its place in the gambling world. The object is to let a ball drop through a maze of pins and eventually fall on one of many slots, each with a specific prize. This simple game was popularized by Trainwrecks, a famous Twitch streamer, but other content creators like Roshtein play it, too.
- Slots —Slots are the easiest casino games to play, so you’ll often find them in many Twitch and YouTube videos, especially those made by leading streamers like Roshtein and n3koglai. Some use fiat currencies, but many go for cryptos, as the platforms they typically play at support them.
- Roulette — Roulette has always been popular among casino users, which is why many streamers also like playing it. There are countless variations, including European, American, and French versions of the game, made by different providers. These games can be RNG or live dealers, the latter even allowing interaction with other participants and dealers through embedded chats. As it’s all live, subscribers can suggest which bets the streamers should place.
- Blackjack — Gamblers who appreciate games incorporating some skills into the mix often opt for blackjack. They play either RNG-based blackjack releases or live dealer games. The former are first-person, where the action is simulated with the help of random number generator algorithms, while the latter allows punters to join live streams of actual blackjack sessions together with real dealers.
Twitch Policy on Gambling Content
Twitch allows gambling on its platform, so streamers can create content around casino games and sports betting, even if it includes cryptocurrencies. However, some sites are of lower quality or even try to scam players, so Twitch has implemented a rule banning videos promoting unlicensed gambling platforms.
If a streamer wants to create content where they play casino games or place sports bets, they must do it on sites licensed in the US or another jurisdiction.
The rule update even mentioned specific platforms that are now banned on Twitch, including Stake.com, Duelbits.com, Rollbit.com, and Roobet.com.
This rule shows how crucial it is to use reliable and legitimate sites and why it matters for players to learn how to avoid BTC gambling scammer platforms.
Moreover, Twitch already prohibits the sharing of referral codes and other links that lead to gambling sites, no matter where they are licensed.
As most of these rules are new and constantly evolving, streamers who break them only get warnings and suspensions but can get harsher penalties over time.
Twitch Streamers Migrating Due to Gambling Policy
Due to the new gambling policies and possible scams, many streamers are considering moving away from Twitch. Some have already left, usually for YouTube, where many creators already have channels. This includes the likes of xQc, Ninja, Amouranth, Pokimane, and others.
Naturally, gambling bans are not the only reason for this. Many streamers are leaving because Twitch wants a bigger share of their earnings. In September 2022, Twitch announced that it was moving from the 70/30 revenue split that favored creators to an even 50/50 share.
The main competitor of Twitch is YouTube, but streamers are moving to other platforms, as well, including DLive, Twire, and, most notably, Kick. It is a live-streaming platform that focuses on gaming, and it has recently announced a mobile app, as GameRant has already covered.
Kick has even introduced the concept of ethical gambling that would allow activities banned on Twitch to get streamers to move to the platform. It has attracted significant creators like Roshtein and Trainwrecks, with others bound to follow.
Though still new and a work in progress, Kick shows more than enough promise with these moves. In the first two months of its launch, it attracted around a million users.
The rules are very favorable to streamers, including a 95/5 revenue split, so seeing more of them moving there wouldn’t be surprising as the platform grows and improves.
