Popular streamer xQc has openly admitted that he is indeed receiving payment to gamble on the Kick platform. This revelation came during one of his streams, following the recent controversy involving NICKMERCS, who disclosed that certain Kick contracts involve gambling obligations.
xQc defended himself by stating, “I’ve always been honest about it…everyone knows that I am.” Earlier in the stream, he directly called out NICKMERCS regarding this matter.
Although Stake, the parent company of Kick, aims to distinguish its offerings beyond gambling, the two are closely intertwined. The prominently featured content on Kick’s homepage primarily revolves around slots and other casino games, and the founders of Stake are also the founders of Kick.
The ongoing streaming rivalry between Kick and Twitch has reached new levels of absurdity. While Twitch has easily surpassed competitors like Mixer or Facebook Live in the past, Kick is challenging Twitch’s dominance with its “creator-friendly” agreements and incentives. In June 2023, xQc signed a non-exclusive, two-year, $100 million deal (including incentives) with Kick.
However, concerns have arisen regarding Kick’s ability to sustain these high-value contracts due to its explicit focus on promoting gambling. There are doubts about whether an online casino, prohibited from operating in the United States, can offer such contracts to streamers based there. Although Twitch is not without its flaws, Kick’s controversial entry into the scene has raised viewer apprehensions.
There is nothing inherently wrong with gambling, but it must be heavily regulated to protect individuals with addictions and tech-savvy youngsters who can easily bypass age restrictions. As Kick is closely tied to Stake and essentially serves as a marketing arm for the casino, it will continue to face criticism for its practices, including alleged incentives or explicit gambling requirements in its contracts.
Source: DOTESPORTS
