Twitch Streamers Clash Over Gambling Content Ban
Twitch streamers Pokimane and Corinna Kopf recently engaged in a heated exchange on social media following Twitch’s decision to ban certain forms of gambling on the platform.
Corinna Kopf, a popular YouTuber and member of David Dobrick’s Vlog Squad, began streaming on Twitch in 2018. While she initially gained fame for streaming Fortnite, Kopf’s recent sponsorship deals related to gambling have led her to focus primarily on gambling content. This shift has significantly boosted her presence on Twitch, with an average of more than 10,000 viewers and 900 new followers per hour, according to Twitch tracker.
Twitch’s recent decision to ban gambling content directly affects Kopf’s primary focus, as both virtual slot machines and her gambling sponsor are explicitly prohibited starting October 19. Kopf quickly voiced her strong opinion on the matter, stating that she believes “everyone is so soft now” and suggesting that Twitch’s ban on gambling could pave the way for the banning of other activities, such as drinking, in the future.
In response to a screenshot of Pokimane watching a Twitch streamer on a gambling website during a room tour, Kopf tweeted, “probably should delete, promotes gambling.” Pokimane has been an advocate for the removal of gambling content, with her motivation heightened by the recent revelation of fellow streamer Sliker’s significant debt.
Shortly after Kopf’s tweet, Pokimane responded while streaming, thanking Kopf sarcastically for the “amazing suggestion” and jokingly offering her a job on her YouTube editing team now that she can no longer promote illegal crypto gambling websites. Pokimane clarified that the screenshot was not an endorsement of online gambling or her own participation in it. She explained that in the video from which the screenshot was taken, she was watching an unnamed friend’s stream.
Kopf fired back after Pokimane’s clip quickly went viral, suggesting that she couldn’t say too much as it might result in her being banned from Twitch. This could be a reference to the ban JiDion received after launching several hate raids against Pokimane, which led to baseless claims that Pokimane has influence over Twitch bans and suspensions.
The online clash between the two streamers has not escalated further at this time. However, Kopf continues to criticize Twitch’s decision to remove gambling content, while Pokimane celebrates the victory of her campaign against it.