Twitch in Hot Water as Swedish Streamers Promote Illegal Casinos
Twitch, the popular global streaming platform, has recently come under increased scrutiny in Sweden due to its alleged promotion of unlicensed online casinos. According to a report by Kulturnyheterna, an investigative branch of Swedish television network Sveriges Television AB, eight out of ten Swedish influencers on the platform have promoted unregulated casinos.
This revelation has caught the attention of Spelinspektionen, the Swedish gambling authority, which may intensify its actions against Twitch in light of these findings. Twitch has long been known as a hub for slots streamers, and this latest report has raised concerns about the platform’s adherence to responsible gambling practices.
Twitch’s Efforts to Improve Social Responsibility
In response to previous criticism, Twitch has made efforts to improve its social responsibility regarding the promotion of gambling. Last year, the platform announced a ban on the promotion of unlicensed gambling, extending it to include measures such as deposit limits, waiting periods, and age verification systems.
A statement regarding these changes stated: “After monitoring the update’s impact for the last year—as well as hearing directly from you—it became clear that some people were circumventing those rules and that further steps were necessary.”
Despite these efforts, Twitch continues to face challenges in ensuring that its platform is free from the promotion of unlicensed gambling operators. This latest development in Sweden is likely to prompt further action as it strives to create a sustainable and socially responsible model for gambling content.
Twitch Fined by Italian Government
This is not the first time the streaming platform has faced criticism over its promotion of gambling products. In Italy, it was sanctioned over breaches of the dignity decree, resulting in a €900,000 fine. AGCOM, the Italian communications authority, issued the fine after finding videos on Twitch promoting slot machines, gambling, sports betting, and scratch cards.
Following the intervention, Google’s YouTube platform and Twitch were ordered to prevent future uploads of similar content under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Twitch has since removed the illegal content, but these incidents highlight the challenges the platform faces in regulating gambling content across its platform.
It remains to be seen what the company will do to further curb these issues in the future as more regions aim to get illegal gambling under control.
Legal Swedish Casinos
FAQs
😵 Why is Twitch in trouble with the Swedish government about online casinos?
Twitch is under the microscope in Sweden for allegedly promoting unlicensed online casinos. A report found that eight out of ten Swedish Twitch influencers were promoting unregulated casinos.
🧐 How is Twitch handling criticism about its gambling promotions?
Twitch is trying to be more responsible with its gambling promotions. They’ve banned unlicensed gambling ads and added measures like deposit limits and age verification.
🧨 What kind of trouble has Twitch faced with gambling regulators?
Twitch got fined €900,000 in Italy for breaking gambling advertising laws. They had videos promoting all sorts of gambling. Google and Twitch were told to stop similar content in the future under the Digital Services Act (DSA).