In a recent move, Turkey has banned both Twitch and Kick due to concerns over their content’s potential harm to citizens.
Twitch and Kick under Fire
For some time now, both Twitch and Kick have faced criticism for allowing gambling-related content on their platforms. Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed several controversies, with one of the most notable being xQc’s incident on Twitch.
🔴#SONDAKİKA | Türkiye, Uluslararası Kumar şirketine ait olan Kick platformu Kick'e erişim engeli getirdi.
Konuştuğum Türk yetkililer, Kick'in Türkiye'ye girmesini Türk gençlerini rulete çekmek olduğunu belirtiyordu.
Bu haberi yaptığımda da bazı yayıncılar beni yalancılıkla… https://t.co/CjsVaiw4hY pic.twitter.com/kNNwcfrCNC
— ibrahim Haskoloğlu (@haskologlu) February 21, 2024
Complexity Surrounding Kick
The situation with Kick is even more intricate. The platform is backed by the co-founders of Stake.com, one of the largest online casinos globally.
Ban in Turkey
Now, both platforms have been banned in Turkey. Turkish journalist Ibrahim Haskoloğlu reported that Kick was the first to be banned, as Turkish authorities believed the platform aimed to lure young Turks into roulette.
Just days later, Turkey also decided to ban Twitch. According to Haskoloğlu, the National Lottery Association made this decision due to Twitch’s public streaming of gambling activities.
Global Crackdown on Gambling Content
The crackdown on gambling content is escalating, and Turkey’s decision is not surprising. Indeed, we shouldn’t rule out other countries taking similar actions in the future.
🔴#SONDAKİKA | BTK'nın sitesinde yer alan bilgiye göre, Milli Piyango İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü kararıyla Twitch'e erişim engeli getirildi.
Twitch, Türkiye'de yasak olmasına rağmen casino vb. kumar oyunlarının izlenimini herkese açık şekilde yayınlıyordu. pic.twitter.com/GUb3Iam9cs
— ibrahim Haskoloğlu (@haskologlu) February 23, 2024
Future Prospects for Twitch and Kick
Given this landscape, it appears that both Twitch and Kick will need to implement serious measures regarding their gambling policies. The coming months will reveal how they navigate this challenge.
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