How Has Twitch Addressed CS:GO Skin Gambling?
4 minutes
Last Updated: February 8, 2024
We live in a strange world where skins (digital in-game collectibles) can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on their rarity. And since big money is involved, there is always betting and gambling.
Yes, you’ve heard that right. People can bet on CS:GO skins and there are many companies that host skin gambling that actually sponsored CS:GO streamers.
In the ever-evolving digital coliseum that is Twitch, the battle against CS:GO skin gambling has taken some dramatic turns, much like a soap opera but with more skin and less amnesia.
So, how has Twitch, the streaming juggernaut, tackled the issue of CS:GO skin gambling?
Let’s dive in and find out more about this controversy.
What is Skin Betting?
Skin gambling sprang to prominence with Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO. This was the first time that players may buy or win ornamental covers for their weapons known as ‘skins’ – costumes or decorations that improve their character or equipment.
These skins may be sold online, since gamers are willing to pay for the most fascinating or rarest skins, with some weapons fetching thousands of dollars. This value is what makes CS: GO skin gambling possible, as you use your skins to make your stake instead of adding your own money to your gambling account.
Streams advocating betting with cosmetics, such as CS:GO skins, have long been a contentious issue among Twitch viewers and others.
While some believe this type of video should be strictly monitored and, at worst, placed with disclaimers warning about the hazards of gambling addiction, others believe it should be completely outlawed, claiming that any such streaming encourages gambling among youngsters.
Many of Twitch’s most successful Counter-Strike: Global Offensive streamers have previously depended on gambling sponsorships to monetize their broadcasts.
The Hammer Falls on CS:GO Skin Gambling
Gone are the days when Twitch’s vast digital landscape freely accommodated the murky world of CS:GO skin gambling.
Twitch, in a move that could rival the plot twists of your favorite detective series, finally laid down the law against CS:GO skin gambling sponsorships and promotions. This wasn’t just a gentle nudge to discourage the practice but an outright prohibition. The platform updated its community guidelines to explicitly state that any form of promotion or sponsorship related to CS:GO skin gambling sites is now off-limits.
Twitch, in a move as bold as it was necessary, updated its Community Guidelines to explicitly ban the promotion and sponsorship of CS:GO skin gambling. This wasn’t just a light tap on the wrist; it was a clear message: Twitch was cleaning house, ensuring a fair and responsible gaming environment.
Following that decision, Twitch has now prohibited streams sponsored by any platform that offers gambling with in-game skins, even those hosted on sites that are not specifically blacklisted by the business. Twitch did it quietly, simply updating its Community Guidelines to include a section barring all skin gambling advertising.
Regardless of these modifications, the site will continue to allow streams involving regular sports betting, poker, and fantasy leagues, according to the most recent edition of its Community Guidelines.
The Numbers Game
You might wonder, “Just how big was this problem?” Well, imagine a small country’s economy, but instead of GDP, it’s all in skins. A YouTuber highlighted that around 75% of the top 300 CS:GO streamers on Twitch were bedazzled with skin gambling sponsors.
This revelation wasn’t just a minor hiccup; it was more like discovering your quiet neighbor is actually a superhero or, in this case, not the kind of hero Twitch wanted.
The Ripple Effect
The implications of Twitch’s crackdown are more expansive than the latest expansion of your favorite MMO. Streamers who once relied heavily on the lucrative deals from skin gambling sites now find themselves in need of alternative revenue streams. This could lead to a gold rush for new types of sponsorships, or perhaps a return to the grassroots of genuinely engaging content minus the gamble.
Streamers, who once might have dabbled in the gray areas of skin gambling, found themselves at a crossroads. Adapt or face oblivion. The viewers, on the other hand, experienced a transformation in content quality. What was once a gamble on morality became a showcase of skill, wit, and genuine entertainment
Questions and Answers
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: Will Twitch enforce this new policy with the fervor of a knight defending the realm? Historically, the platform has been criticized for its lax enforcement of similar rules. However, with the stakes higher than ever, there’s a good chance Twitch will sharpen its swords to ensure compliance.
Final Words
So, if you are a streamer actually promoting skin gambling activities on your stream, it is better to stop immediately if you are not already banned. Twitch has updated its community guidelines and put an end to CS:GO skin gambling.
We just have to wait and see how the market will adapt to this change. Certainty big-skin gambling companies will come up with a way to bypass Twitch’s new community guidelines.
