When Counter-Strike: Global Offensive went free to play, one thing fans could not understand was how the game intended to make money. Then, they remembered the game has a thriving skin market on Steam, which sees Valve take a small cut whenever a sale is made. However, it was not long before third-party gambling websites emerged. With the prospect of getting skins valued at thousands of dollars, it attracted a large player base from the game, especially from streamers. It looks like these promotions are at an end on Twitch.

Twitch mentioned in its community guidelines its stance on CS:GO gambling. These guidelines essentially spell the end of CS:GO gambling on the streaming platform.

Twitch brings an end to CS:GO gambling on the platform

CS:GO gambling continues to be a major talking point about the game. Essentially, through shady websites, streamers are given deals that see them promote gambling on the website. What makes this even more problematic is the kind of access kids have to the content. A large part of a lot of streamers’ viewership is underage kids, who are given the wrong message through the promotion of these gambling websites.

One CS:GO content creator, Houngoungagne, took up the charge of exposing these websites. In two detailed videos, he explained the darker aspects of these gambling websites. Rarely do they have the right licenses needed and masquerade through loopholes to entice more players to gamble.

In its latest move, Twitch mentions it will not be tolerating any form of promotion or sponsorship for a skin gambling website. It came listed under the FAQ sections, addressing specifically the CS:GO gambling market. It remains a big move in terms of how it regulates content, especially when it comes to addressing serious issues such as gambling addiction.

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Fans have two sides to their reactions

As the news broke, fans could not believe what they saw. The gambling market is a big, albeit dark part of the CS:GO community. To see Twitch make an effort to curb gambling is a big deal for the community. This becomes more relevant given Twitch also has kids watching streamers. Being encouraged to gamble early on can lead to serious problems later in life. While Twitch’s community guidelines usually see fans groan in annoyance, this one was an absolute victory for one fan.

While a lot of the community celebrated, one fan tried to clarify the situation. The guidelines mention sponsorships or promotions of gambling websites are prohibited. It does not say opening cases gets the ban hammer entirely. The fan believes the reason a large part of the community saw angry comments was due to the lack of clarity about opening cases.

One fan had a completely different take. They believed this move would see people and streamers gravitate towards Kick. Twitch’s rival has relaxed policies when it comes to gambling, meaning it can see an influx of streamers wanting to retain gambling websites as sponsors.

The change in Twitch policy is a crucial move for the CS:GO community, given the severity and seriousness of gambling addiction. Since the growth of CS:GO’s skin market, the consequences become even bigger, and proactive action can be quite significant.

READ MORE: Famous Streamer Strikes Gold by Having the Luckiest CS:GO Crate Opening in History

What are your thoughts on Twitch’s stance on CS:GO gambling? Let us know in the comments below!

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