Stake.com-affiliated streaming site adds top Twitch gambling streamer to roster
Kick, which is powered by Stake co-founder Ed Craven’s Easygo, looking to disrupt streaming sector with bold move
Stake.com looks set to undercut Twitch after adding star gambling streamer Trainwreck to its affiliated streaming platform, Kick.
After much furore, Twitch banned sites that included slots, roulette or dice games from firms that weren’t licensed in the US or other jurisdictions that provided adequate customer protection.
These sites included Stake, as well as Rollbit, Duelbits and Roobet, which are all crypto operators.
Gambling streaming on the Amazon-owned platform had been incredibly popular before the ban, with streamers having seen viewing figures plummet in the near-two months since the barring order came into effect.
One of these leading streamers, Trainwreck, while having his gripes with the gambling streaming ban, confirmed his intentions to begin streaming on Kick after hitting out at Twitch.
Trainwreck, whose real name is Tyler Niknam, slammed Twitch for pulling back on its proposed 70/30 split for revenue for streamers, instead sticking to its existing 50/50 split.
Speaking on the reasons for joining Kick, Niknam said the platform will offer a 95/5 split in the streamer’s favour, along with 100% of all tips going to the creator.
Shortly after Niknam’s comments, questions began to arise over Kick and its ability to attract one of Twitch’s leading stars.
Kick is powered by Easygo, a company established in 2016 by Stake.com co-founder Ed Craven.
In 2017, Easygo provided the tech on which Stake.com operates, with the crypto firm still listed as one of Easygo’s clients.
Additionally, an advertised job listing on Workable for a web game developer for Easygo details the applicant will be working on Kick.
The job ad reads: “Kick.com is a new venture created by the founders of Easygo with new studios in Australia and Europe.
“Kick Gaming’s vision is to be the leading content provider in the gambling industry thanks to its fresh approach to building top-notch slot and table games available to online casinos worldwide through a single API to its remote game server.”
The apparent move from Stake to cut into the gambling streaming market and attract both streamers and viewers after Twitch’s landmark decision is a bold one.
Twitch has been the de facto streaming site in recent years, but following the gambling advertising ban and the issues surrounding its revenue split, streamers have been choosing to head to YouTube and other platforms instead.