Twitch bends its gambling rules for Budapest Major—will xQc exploit the loophole?
Twitch has made an exception for the upcoming Counter-Strike StarLadder Budapest Major, despite its strict gambling policies. The tournament’s main partner, Rollbit, is a gambling platform previously banned from the site. However, the streaming service will allow broadcasts—with certain restrictions in place.
Streamer xQc, one of Twitch’s biggest names, has now proposed ways to bypass these rules, raising questions about how the platform will respond.
Twitch has long blocked gambling-related content from unregulated sites like Rollbit and Stake. The policy led to bans on streams featuring logos, links, or promotions for these platforms. Yet, for the StarLadder Budapest Major, Twitch has agreed to permit the event’s broadcast, even though Rollbit remains a primary sponsor. The only condition is that broadcasters must avoid verbal mentions of the gambling site during the streams.
The decision has sparked discussion among creators, particularly xQc, who has over 12 million followers and ranks among Twitch’s top ten streamers. He recently suggested that simply removing Rollbit’s logo from the screen would satisfy Twitch’s rules. But he has also hinted at testing the boundaries further by streaming gambling content from Kick—a rival platform—while still broadcasting on Twitch.
Beyond verbal mentions, xQc has proposed using physical branding to work around restrictions. He plans to hang a large Stake banner in his streaming room, arguing that Twitch’s policies focus on digital overlays rather than real-world objects. Other creators are now watching closely to see whether Twitch will take action if he follows through.
Some industry observers believe Twitch’s recent flexibility could signal a shift in its gambling policies. The platform has faced declining advertising revenue, leading to speculation that it may relax certain rules to attract more sponsorship deals.
Twitch’s decision to allow the StarLadder Budapest Major—despite Rollbit’s involvement—sets a precedent for how it enforces gambling policies. xQc’s plans to test these limits could force the platform to clarify its stance. The outcome will likely influence how other creators approach gambling-related content in the future.
