Trainwrecks, a popular streamer who has consolidated his presence as one of the most prominent gambling streamers and co-founder of Kick, a disruptor streaming service, has suggested that the highly successful platform is on its way to make some huge signings that would “devastate” the streaming industry and offer even more opportunities for small and mid-sized hardworking creators to gain traction.

New Potential Signee to Change the Streaming Paradigm

Kick has been a pioneer in letting in gambling streamers and also letting consumers filter gambling content if they don’t wish to see it in the first place. The platform has since signed Amouranth and Adin Ross, xQc, and offered them eye-watering seven-figure deals, including a purported $100 million offer to xQc, which has been recently criticized.

As to Trainwrecks, the Kick co-founder is very confident that the next signings on the platform will include personalities whose switch to the platform will be felt well across the streaming segment. Who this may be is another matter altogether. Kick has not revealed any details about who the new contracts may target.

However, the streaming giant has spared no dime in bringing over more prominent figures, encroaching easily on Twitch territory and compelling consumers, content creators, and viewers to set their new streaming home as Kick.

Kick has also made sure that its platform is organic and free of manipulations, addressing both earlier concerns about botting and the proliferation of gambling content. Kick has been able to completely upend how streamers are paid.

Potential Target for Devastating Signing

The platform offers a 95/5 split, with the bulk going to the content creators themselves, whereas Twitch and YouTube offer 50/50 and 70/30 respectively. Some content creators though have not been tempted by the Kick’s carrot just yet with Asmongold openly supporting the platform but not making a switch.

There was speculation earlier in 2023, and indeed, Asmongold joining now would really coincide with Trainwrecks’ promise of a “devastating signing.”

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The famous online streamer and social media personality, Felix “xQc,” announced during a recent stream that he was kicked out from a casino he visited in Canada. The star that streams online casino games on Twitch’s rival platform, Kick, said that after a birthday dinner, he visited a casino to celebrate and have fun with his family. xQc recalled playing with some CA$30,000 ($21,700) with his family members before going to a teller to withdraw more money.

At that point, the streamer claimed that the casino employee requested his information for another time. xQc said in his recent stream that he had already given his information twice and even submitted four tax forms with all of his details. Then, he said, the employee wanted to speak to their boss. While the whole encounter was taking way longer than xQc expected, at some point, three casino security guards came in front of him and told him that he was banned.

The streamer explained: “Three security guards come up and they are like: ‘Yo dude, you gotta go, you are banned.’ Like bad mood, rude a** m***********s, just say, you are banned!” He was then asked to leave the venue but before doing so, asked the security guards for more information on why he was banned. xQc also asked if he could tell his family at the gaming table that he would have to leave.

“Went to the Montréal casino after my birthday dinner to spend some time with my family. Split small amounts to each member so we could play table games and laugh. Security came and dragged me out in front of everyone because of a 2022 radio Canada clickbait article. Cringe,“

reads a post on X released by xQc

According to the streamer on Kick, going to the entrance of the casino, he met with seven security guards. xQc asked if he could talk to the casino’s “big boss.” Shortly after, the manager of the venue arrived and took him to a corridor that looked like an employee-only area. There, xQc once again questioned why he was banned, considering that he wanted to celebrate his holiday with his family and place some wagers.

Then, the “big boss” told the streamer that in 2022, an article emerged online that alleged he was addicted to gambling. “An employee of the casino or our online system banned you from playing online,” xQc claimed he was told by the casino’s manager.

The social media star went on to criticize the gambling regulations in Quebec. He explained the monopoly model of Lotto Quebec, saying that they run all gambling activities in the province.

Earlier this month, xQc revealed that his total wagers on Stake are getting close to $3 billion. Undoubtedly, the streamer walked a long way from his $40 bets per spin a few years ago to a staggering $50,000 wagers per spin only recently.

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The famous American internet celebrity, streamer and adult content creator, Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa, announced a new partnership with Kick earlier this year. The announcement of the new collaboration came after another famous streamer, xQc, announced his plans to transition to Kick by signing a deal valued at a whopping $100 million.

Undoubtedly, the switch of Amouranth to Kick dealt a hit for Twitch, especially considering that she ranked as the most popular female streamer on the platform for 2022. Back in June, Siragusa released a video via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, titled “It’s time,” where she is portrayed reviewing the news about xQc’s partnership with Kick. She then talked with the same agent who participated in the negotiation for xQc’s $100 million dollar deal. In the end, Amouranth confirms that she joined the platform as well.

Now, a new report suggests that the partnership between Siragusa and Kick significantly boosted the revenue of the famous streamer. As announced by Dexerto, Amouranth confirmed that her streaming contract with the platform had a “similar concept” to the one with xQc. She explained that she could not disclose actual figures about the deal but reiterated that the partnership with Kick was arranged through the same agent.

“I can’t talk about the actual numbers, but we got signed around the same time through the same agent. It’s a very similar concept.“

Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa

The Deal with Kick Doubled the Streamer’s Income

When asked again, Amouranth refrained from disclosing numbers but admitted that her collaboration with the streaming platform doubled her income. “It’s very lucrative for sure. It’s non-exclusive, so you can stream on Kick and Twitch, so it’s set up the same way,” she added.

“It basically doubled my income across the board,“

explained Amouranth

The streaming contract with Kick isn’t the only endeavor for the globally recognized streamer. Amouranth previously made headlines with unique broadcasts, as well as different investments. She is also famous for launching an AI version of herself along with the upcoming release of a beer that is made from her own body.

Back in October, Nick “NICKMERCS” Kolcheff, the famous Call of Duty streamer, announced his foray on Kick. The famous streamer, who also happens to be a co-owner of FaZe Clan, confirmed he signed a non-exclusive deal with the platform that rivals Twitch. Media reports at the time valued the deal at eight figures, meaning at least $10 million.

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Popular Call of Duty streamer Nick “NICKMERCS” Kolcheff has announced his foray into gambling streams on the Twitch rival platform, Kick. Kolcheff, a co-owner of Faze Clan, recently signed a lucrative non-exclusive deal with Kick, reportedly worth eight figures. During his first livestream on the platform, he confirmed the inclusion of gambling streams, citing it as a contractual obligation.

High-Profile Kick Streamers Are Obliged to Host Gambling Streams

While many were taken aback by this unexpected turn, it appears that gambling streams are, in fact, a stipulated requirement for certain high-profile streamers on Kick. The platform, backed by Stake.com, one of the leading gambling platforms in the industry, seems to have made gambling an integral part of its content strategy.

Kolcheff, addressing his viewers during the livestream, revealed that he would be conducting gambling streams in the future. He mentioned that he would not be doing a lot but confirmed that some gambling streams were definitely planned, emphasizing that it was a part of the contract. He also revealed that these streams will be conducted from a secret location outside the United States, as legal constraints prevent such activities within the country.

The collaboration between Kick and Stake.com has raised questions about the ethical implications of promoting gambling to a wide audience, especially considering the ban imposed on gambling sites by Twitch in 2022. Many prominent Twitch streamers expressed concerns about the promotion of gambling to underage viewers, prompting the ban of several gambling-related sites.

Streamer Investments and Ethical Debates Define Platform Dynamics

Kick, however, seems undeterred by these concerns. The platform, known for its substantial financial investments in securing renowned streamers such as Félix “xQc” Lengyel and Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa, appears determined to push the boundaries of content creation. Kolcheff’s announcement adds another layer to the platform’s controversial image, already marred by previous incidents involving other streamers and their questionable content.

It remains to be seen how the community will react to this controversial decision. With Kolcheff’s assurance of conducting viewer giveaways using the gambling funds provided by Kick, the streams are bound to attract significant attention, both from fans and critics alike.

Meanwhile, in July, Kick addressed concerns about gambling content and view-botting with new updates. Co-founder Ed Craven announced measures to combat view botting, including extra view count protection, emphasizing Kick’s commitment to a fair environment. Kick also introduced a toggle option, allowing users to control their exposure to gambling streams.

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French-Canadian online streamer who started his career as a professional Overwatch player, Félix Lengyel, whom you might know as xQc (ex xQcOW), has made an announcement that sparked plenty of heated conversations in the streaming community. 

The Twitch and Kick streamer said he was planning on giving up gambling after he shared a link with his online community, showcasing a massive $5 million win on Stake.com. The latter is a popular online crypto-gambling platform that boasts about offering the best casino and sports betting platforms for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. 

xQc Took It to His Offline Chat to Make the Announcement 

Last September, Twitch announced an important update to its policy aimed at forbidding content creators from streaming from gambling sites featuring roulette, slots, and dice games that are not licensed in the US and other gambling markets with consumer protections in place. 

Before the controversial ban was imposed, xQc had become one of the top “gamba” (gambling) streamers there. After the streaming platform made the crucial announcement, xQc decided to move his gambling content to Kick, Twitch’s direct competitor launched on October 18, 2022. 

The Juicer who had been streaming on Twitch almost on a daily basis therefore resumed his gambling. His debut gambling stream on Kick ended with an impressive win of over $553,000.

Now, xQc has announced he would put an end to his gambling habits online after hitting an impressive $5 million win in an online game. The news follows the streamer’s $1.1 million gambling loss in Las Vegas.

xQc used his offline chat to share a screenshot showcasing the whopping win on Stake.com while also letting his viewers and subscribers know that he had already cashed out the money and that he would not be gambling anymore. 

$1.5 Billion in Wagers

In September 2023, the streamer also openly shared his statistics on the Stake.com platform with his viewers, proving that he had placed no less than 788,877 bets there. Out of these bets, xQc won 76,398. The rest of the bets were losing ones. 

The French-Canadian streamer and online personality also emphasized the fact that his wagers had gone over the $1.5 billion mark.

It remains to be seen if xQc will truly give up gambling, as the streamer has a track record of not always disclosing the full truth with his community.

In the spring of 2022, xQc openly spoke about his gambling addiction on Twitch, explaining that he felt compelled to take unnecessary risks in every game he plays while also claiming that he “can afford to be ill”. 

Last month, Stake.com announced that a cyberattack affected its ETH/BSC hot wallets, leading to $41 million in losses. 

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Gambling streamers have become very popular in recent years – but why is that, and what have popular platforms Twitch and Kick done to increase their popularity?

Twitch’s popularity

Tom Waterhouse from Waterhouse VC decided to research this topic and compare two of the most popular streamers. Twitch was launched in 2011, but its biggest growth was recorded after Amazon bought the platform for $970 million in 2014. At the time, there were very few streamers in the whole US market.

There awaited various thrilling features, including many tutorials and chat rooms hosted by famous gamers from all over the world. The money comes from both ads and premium subscriptions, as well as a few merchandise sales, and the platform and the streamer used to split the subscription revenue 50/50 until June when it changed to 70/30 for the streamer.

Among other things, Twitch offers Bits – it’s an internal currency that users can give to steamers as a sign of support, and that revenue is also split. However, according to the source, the streamers believe they’re underpaid. In 2021, some information about the network was leaked, and according to that, only 0.01% of streamers were paid more than the minimum wage. This is the main reason for the different split percentages, along with increased competition from the new platforms.

Kick – a serious threat

Another major platform is Kick, which is relatively new, with the launch in January 2023. However, it rapidly became popular among streamers and viewers. Streamers love it because of the 95/5 split, along with keeping all the tips to themselves.

Kick also allows gambling. After the 2022 scandal, when Twitch borrowed money from creators to pretend to fund gambling expenses, Twitch decided to ban most of the popular gambling streaming, starting in October last year.

Back then, the company claimed: “We’ll be making a policy update on 18 October to prohibit streaming of gambling sites that include slots, roulette, or dice games that aren’t licensed either in the US or other jurisdictions that provide sufficient consumer protection.”

On Kick, however, gambling content is beyond popular, which has drawn streamers to the platform. Since fans keep finding new ways to gamble, the ban didn’t help – many of them simply transferred to Kick, which likely won’t ban gambling content from the platform since its popularity keeps growing.

In January, the platform had 9.000 active channels, and in April, that number increased to 67,000. Also, there were 12.8 million viewing hours in January, and that number increased to 51.8 million until April. It is still only 2.8% of Twitch’s hours, but the company keeps growing, and gambling streaming helps a lot.

Will Twitch be replaced by Kick? It’s early to say for sure, but the games have just begun.

Source: “Waterhouse VC: Twitching into gear”. iGaming Business. August 22, 2023

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Co-founder Ed Craven recently announced a series of updates aimed at maintaining a fair landscape for creators and safeguarding users from potential manipulations.

Kick Co-founder Acknowledges View Botting Issue and Unveils Protection Measures

Since its launch in late 2022, Kick has seen a remarkable surge in growth, but with this success came allegations of view botting, tarnishing the platform’s reputation. To combat this issue, Craven declared that Kick would roll out extra view count protection. This measure is expected to counter view count manipulation and address problems associated with chat and follow bots. He emphasized the platform’s commitment to creating a fair environment for content creators and reassured the community that they are continuously growing and evolving.

In a recent Twitter thread, Craven openly acknowledged the existence of view botting and the need to tackle this problem head-on. Such issues have been a point of contention among creators and viewers, leading to scepticism about the legitimacy of some streamers’ popularity. By implementing view count protection, Kick seeks to restore trust and confidence in its platform.

The co-founder also confirmed the platform’s connection to the gambling world, as Kick is co-owned by Stake, an online crypto-based gambling website. To address concerns about excessive gambling content, Craven disclosed that Kick would be removing “unnecessary exposure” to gambling-related content in their recommended formulas.

Kick Introduces Toggle Option for Gambling Streams

Furthermore, Kick has now given its users greater control over their viewing experience. The platform introduced a toggle option that allows users to choose whether they want to view gambling streams while browsing through the site’s channels. This move gives users the ability to remove gambling and hot tub streams from their recommended feed and search results, enhancing their overall viewing experience.

Kick‘s commitment to being streamer-friendly has attracted notable streamers, including Trainwreck and xQc, who made the switch from other platforms. The platform offers more generous revenue splits than its competitors, with a 95/5 revenue split for paid subscribers, in contrast to Twitch’s 50/50 and YouTube’s 70/30 splits. Additionally, Kick supports its streamers by providing hourly stipends based on various criteria, such as viewer count, hours streamed, and CPM.

Kick got banned in Greece due to its lax policies on gambling content leading to the platform being blacklisted by the Hellenic Gaming Commission. With the latest Kick update regarding gambling streams, the Commission may have to review its decision.

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As a result, he is moving to greener pastures with Kick offering a better split and overall presence in the streaming space. xQc is joining to promote the type of content which he likes best, which includes online gambling, and admittedly get a better rate. 

His decision to join Kick is also incentivized by a $100 million price tag on the deal, which will last for two years. He has become the latest topflight streamer to disembark from Twitch, accusing the platform of ham-fisted policies and double standards.

Kick Beckons to Twitch’s Top-Performing Streamers 

As such, xQc is joining fellow content creators Amouranth and Trainwrecks who too made the switch to Kick recently. Kick is a brand new entry into the streaming space and one that is making very fast gains. The platform is a collaboration between Easygo Gaming and Stake.com, two online gambling companies, along with other partners.

Presently, Kick offers a massive 95% share split with content creators, which puts it well ahead of Twitch’s models. Some critics have said that Kick is focused on short-term customer acquisition but fails to properly communicate how it’s going to be profitable in the future or if it’s profitable even now.

Kick is openly burning through money to acquire some of the biggest streaming talents, but also maintaining a very strong focus on online gambling. xQc is not the best example of a gambling streamer, as he originally played League of Legends and Overwatch, before making the switch to online gambling.

A Firebrand Personality from the Very Get-Go

xQc briefly played at Dallas Fuel, an Overwatch League franchise, but was released over a series of offensive comments. He then embarked on exploring other forms of content, which is how gambling came into his sights. In a single year, he managed to lose $1.8 million, something he admitted himself.

However, the streamer remained fond of gambling and was unapologetic about confronted how he ended up promoting gambling content to all sorts of viewers who come to Twitch to escape gambling ads. 

Ultimately, xQc said that it was his stream and down to him to enjoy his favorite type of content. He called out Twitch on its ill-defined ban on gambling content while still letting some stars get away with promoting gambling. On June 16, xQc wrote that “the time has come” and revealed that he was joining Kick. 

The post xQc Signs $100M Deal with Twitch Rival Kick appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Little did Drake know that a seemingly ordinary livestream would turn into a hilarious viral sensation, leaving fans in stitches and social media buzzing with laughter.

Drake’s Livestream Fiasco Creates Internet Frenzy

Drake, known for his generosity, had already captured the hearts of fans and content creators alike by gifting a remarkable 20,000 Kick subscriptions to over 100 creators before the incident occurred. His goodwill was widely praised, setting the stage for a highly anticipated livestream experience. 

As the livestream progressed, with Drake engaging in lively conversations and showcasing his unique charm, an unexpected moment stole the spotlight. In an attempt to further spread his generosity, Drake decided to gift 100 subscriptions to a streamer named Daisy. However, what followed was a minor hiccup that would lead to a major eruption of laughter and amusement across the internet.

As Drake’s associate eagerly tried to process the transaction, an unforeseen turn of events unfolded. To the astonishment of everyone involved, Drake’s credit card was declined. The reason behind the declined transaction remains a mystery, although speculation suggests it could have been triggered by the bank’s detection of potentially suspicious activity.

In a comically high-pitched tone, Drake couldn’t help but exclaim, “Embarrassing! Yeah, what just happened?!” The unexpected combination of embarrassment and humor struck a chord with fans, who quickly shared the video far and wide, turning it into a viral sensation.

Drake’s Viral Livestream Mishap Inspires a Deluge of Memes and Jokes

The incident became a playground for creativity, with fans swiftly crafting memes and jokes inspired by Drake’s reaction. Social media platforms were flooded with witty adaptations, adding to the collective amusement of the situation. 

Despite the temporary blush of embarrassment, Drake’s first Kick livestream can still be deemed a resounding success. The mishap only served to enhance the overall enjoyment of the livestream, leaving fans eagerly awaiting future streams with heightened anticipation. 

As the video continues to circulate and the laughter persists, Drake’s presence on the Kick platform is expected to draw even more attention. Fans are eager to witness future surprises and entertaining moments from the rapper, knowing that each livestream holds the potential for both planned delights and unexpected hilarity.At the same time, Drake has been criticized for promoting gambling during his live streams. This of course is no surprise as he is an avid bettor and a brand ambassador for the crypto betting platform Stake.com.

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Kick, a Stake-owned streaming platform, continues to make headlines and dispute Twitch’s rule. For a time, people thought that YouTube Gaming would be the Amazon-owned platform’s true competitor but it turns out that competing with Kick is going to be the real challenge.

Kick provided all streamers neglected by Twitch with a refuge. While the purple platform was busy getting involved in countless controversies, Kick provided streamers with everything they could have wanted: lax rules, financially-appealing contracts and a place where they can stream content on Twitch’s blacklist.

This is big for gambling streamers whose source of income was cut when Twitch decided to ban content from certain sites on its platform. In addition, Twitch’s policies have been getting stricter and stricter, greatly limiting users’ freedom of speech and prompting intense scrutiny from fans of uncensored content. Amazon has been busy banning and suspending people left and right, bullish on enforcing a sterile discipline.

Many Streamers Are Ditching Twitch for Kick

Some months ago, Twitch introduced a ban on certain sites it deemed dangerous, dealing a great blow to the Slots category community. Operators such as Duelbits, Roobets and even Stake were banned from the platform, jeopardizing the livelihoods of Slots content creators.

As a Stake-owned platform, Kick has no such rules, prompting a streamer leak from Twitch into its own platform. All the creators who have felt they’ve been mistreated by Amazon, are now joining the fresh platform. This includes major gambling streamers such as Trainwreckstv, Roshtein and Xposed. Trainwreckstv, in fact, has a leading role in the development of Kick, leveraging his experience to help its new patron do better than Twitch.

This situation forces Twitch to wage a war on two fronts as YouTube Gaming has already been stealing some of its most popular video game streamers.

Kick Mocks Twitch for Keeping 50% of Its Users’ Money

Considering that Kick offers its streamers 95% of the subscription money while Twitch keeps 50%, it is not hard to see why many high-profile streamers have been joining the newer platform. In a recent post, Kick mocked Twitch for its greedier policies, comparing it to a slow car in a professional race.