Popular streamer xQc has made it crystal clear - he's not shy about the fact that he's getting paid to gamble on Kick. This revelation came during one of his live streams, triggered by the recent uproar surrounding NICKMERCS' exposure of certain gambling obligations in Kick contracts.

xQc, in a spirited defense, stated, "I've never lied about it...everyone knows I am." Earlier in the same stream, he directly called out NICKMERCS for his stance on the matter.

Kick, with its heavy focus on gambling, is intrinsically tied to Stake, a company striving to distinguish itself in the world of betting. The Kick homepage prominently showcases top streams revolving around slots and various casino games. Interestingly, the founders of Stake are also the brains behind Kick.

The streaming battlefield has recently witnessed a peculiar skirmish between Kick and the giant, Twitch. In the past, Twitch has effortlessly conquered rivals like Mixer and Facebook Live, but Kick is proving to be a formidable adversary. Kick's "creator-friendly" deals and incentives have started chipping away at Twitch's dominance. In June 2023, xQc penned a non-exclusive two-year deal worth $100 million, when accounting for incentives, with Kick.

Nonetheless, concerns loom large over Kick's capability to sustain such lucrative contracts, given its pronounced affiliation with gambling. The online casino's inability to operate in the United States raises questions about its choice of streamers based in the country. While Twitch may not be a moral guardian, Kick's sudden ascent has left viewers uneasy.

It's important to note that gambling itself isn't inherently wrong, but it must be strictly regulated to safeguard individuals struggling with addiction and to prevent tech-savvy minors from circumventing age restrictions. Kick's association with Stake, effectively functioning as a casino marketing arm, leaves it vulnerable to criticism for alleged incentives and explicit gambling requisites in its contracts.