Turkey Ends Kick Ban Following Removal of Gambling Content, Twitch Still Restricted

Author

Moin Khot

Date

Feb, 27.2024

Turkey has decided to lift the ban on the live-streaming platform Kick. This decision comes shortly after the country imposed restrictions due to the presence of gambling content on the website. Journalist İbrahim Haskoloğlu broke the news in a recent update, indicating that the ban on Kick has been revoked. However, Twitch, another popular streaming platform, remains inaccessible to Turkish users.

The issue of gambling content in online streams has been a topic of debate for quite some time. Last week, the Turkish authorities took action against Kick, citing violations of state laws concerning gambling. This move triggered discussions across various online platforms, with users expressing concerns through error messages and blocked access to the website. Nonetheless, Kick has taken a proactive step by removing gambling-related content specifically tailored for its Turkish audience.

According to Haskoloğlu's report, the reason for Twitch's continued ban is its failure to address the presence of gambling streams on its platform effectively. The Turkish government, through the National Lottery Administration, maintains strict regulations on all forms of betting activities within the country. The recent ban on Kick was attributed to the authorities' concerns regarding the platform's potential influence on Turkish youth towards gambling activities.

The official stance on Kick has shifted following the removal of gambling content from its platform. It's essential to note the controversy surrounding Kick, particularly due to its affiliation with Stake.com, a prominent online gambling website. Stake.com, owned by the founders of Kick, has faced criticism on various platforms, including Twitch, leading to restrictions on gambling-related content.

Despite Kick's resolution, Twitch remains banned in Turkey due to its ongoing hosting of certain types of gambling streams. The future of Twitch's accessibility in Turkey remains uncertain unless significant measures are taken to comply with the country's regulations.