Twitch Streamer Pokimane Calls On Platform to Ban Gambling Streams

Posted on: September 20, 2022, 07:43h. 

Last updated on: September 21, 2022, 05:15h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

The streaming platform, Twitch, promised to crack down on gambling streams. But streamers are calling out the platform again after a recent scandal.

Pokimane
Twitch video game content creator Pokimane in her home studio. She and others are trying to pressure Twitch into changing its stance on gambling following a scam a fellow streamer perpetrated. (Image: Twitch.tv/Pokimane via Dot Esports)

British content creator Nick Sliker is in the spotlight after reportedly launching a financial scam on Twitch. He asked his followers and other streamers for money to cover a “bad economic situation.” But the streaming community later discovered that he used the money he collected to cover his gambling habit.

The scams came to light when video game streamer Mikelpee shared a video a few months ago. In it, Sliker, who has 432K followers on Twitch, asked a follower for money, asserting that his bank account was blocked. He said a loan had come due and needed the money to avoid trouble.

Now big name streamers like Pokimane and others are demanding changes. Pokimane, who has 9.2 million followers, is part of a growing campaign against Twitch to ban gambling content. They have begun using the hashtag #TwitchStopGambling, arguing that this scandal shows the need for better controls.

If Twitch doesn’t respond to the demand for change, the streamers are ready to take action. They’ll pause their content creation during the holiday season and impact Twitch’s ad revenue.

Streaming for Dollars

Through the ruse, Sliker collected money from his followers and fellow streamers. They all offered to give him “loans” as they sought to help him overcome his financial hardships.

I used to gamble a lot of my money. Basically, all my Twitch money. I would come across streamers and ask them if I could borrow money. I wouldn’t give them the reason obviously. Because it was gambling I would lie to them,” Sliker said.

One fellow streamer, Trainwreck, reportedly gave him $45,000. Some admitted to providing up to $7,000. By the time the final tally was in, he had allegedly fleeced the Twitch community out of $300K.

His financial hardships never existed, however. In reality, Sliker used them as an excuse to get donations that he allegedly spent wagering on sports and purchasing video game loot boxes. He later copped to having lost all of the money.

It was an admission he gave only after the scam took wings and went viral on Twitch and social media platforms. He faced accusations by other streamers, including Matthew “Mizkif” Rinaudo and Félix “xQc” Lengyel, and immediately came clean.

Sliker recorded a stream where he indicated that he suffered from gambling addiction. In it, he also promised that he would “try to” enter rehab. But some Twitch users aren’t betting on it.

Streamers to the Rescue

Successful Twitch streamers can make millions. They receive income directly from their streams, as well as through sponsorship deals. Pokimane, for example, has a net worth of around $2 million-$3 million, according to The Loadout. xQc earned $8.4 million from August 2019 to October 2021.

A couple of content creators are going to cover Sliker’s debt. xQc and Ludwig Ahgren have agreed to repay all of the money, “even a single dollar.” Both had also fallen for Sliker’s plea for help.

The streamers will issue the payout if the follower can prove he or she contributed.