Home » Twitch is Counter-Suing a Streamer Who Promoted Gambling
Twitch is Counter-Suing a Streamer Who Promoted Gambling
Recently updated on May 16th, 2018
Twitch Interactive is a live-streaming service used mainly by ‘celebrity’ gamers. These gamers make money from live-streams and promotional deals. Some even advertise specific services for the games they play. However, one ‘celebrity’ was banned from Twitch in 2016 after using the platform to promote a skin betting site he owns. The player, James ‘Phatoml0rd’ Varga, has opened a lawsuit against the service this year; 600 days after his account was deleted.
He claims that the streaming service terminated his account after they had allowed him to broadcast content about his site. What’s more, they were required to give a written explanation for doing so. Varga claims that Twitch had not given him a reason, and had therefore illegally terminated his ‘contract’. So, now the platform will be suing him for failing to disclose his personal connections to the betting site and for committing fraud.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive on Twitch
Varga was a well-known Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) player. Many gamers on Twitch tend to stream a popular video game weekly. CS: GO is one of the most popular video games in 2018, and is played at international eSports tournaments. It also has many ‘spin-off’ sites offering ‘free’ items from the game. Just like slots, players ‘spin’ and gamble on what they’ll get.
Mr Varga owns one of these sites, CSGOShuffle, and allegedly knew the results of the spins he made beforehand. An anonymous hacker shared this information with a gaming journalist in 2016. The journalist, Richard Lewis, made the information public shortly after.
Varga Guilty of Fraud
Using the information released by Richard Lewis, Twitch has opened its own lawsuit against Varga. They claim that promoting skin gambling is against their terms and conditions, which Varga knew about. More so, the proof in Lewis’ ‘dossier’ gives them a good footing for the suit. Since they can prove that the gamer was committing fraud, it might turn into an open and shut case. However, no amount of damages has been revealed for either party.
Taralynn Engels is a seasoned casino news writer with a passion for keeping her readers up-to-date with the latest happenings in the gambling industry. With over five years of professional writing experience, Taralynn has developed a deep understanding of the casino industry and a knack for delivering engaging and informative content. Aside from her in-depth knowledge of the casino industry, Taralynn possesses excellent writing skills that allow her to craft captivating narratives that keep readers hooked until the last word. Her ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in an accessible manner guarantees that her articles are enjoyed by both seasoned casino enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Recently updated on January 26th, 2018Gambling laws in Brazil have been pending for years, with different bills being stalled in federal talks. This week, the Tourism Committee has called for Brazilian casinos to be legalised to boost tourist revenues. Paulo Azi, Federal Deputy for the organisation, spoke to local news outlets after launching the electronic […]
Recently updated on March 31st, 2019The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (NZDIA) has taken action against a gambling venue manager. An NZDIA spokesperson has confirmed that the accused was employed at a gambling venue and not a casino. Under the 2003 Gambling Act, the manager is facing a fine of NZ$5000 and a criminal […]
Recently updated on October 29th, 2018While it was billed as ‘the largest jackpot in US history’, last week’s win fell a little short of the estimated US$1.6 billion (NZ$2.45 billion). However, the lucky US Mega Millions winner probably won’t be complaining. The winning numbers and ticket have been traced to South Carolina, where winners can […]
Recently updated on May 3rd, 2018Fans of the popular FIFA 18 game from Electronic Arts (EA) will soon be able to play in the World Cup. Free World Cup content will be available from 29 May on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch platforms. While the real World Cup will only start […]
Recently updated on March 22nd, 2018At least four individuals are being detained by the Bulgarian General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) cybercrime unit for hacking slot machines. These individuals defrauded many land-based casinos using a ‘sophisticated scheme.’ At the moment, it’s unclear how much they stole during their scheme. However, they will be charged through […]