The attraction of gambling content
Most people who’re familiar with social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram will have seen clips of popular influencers showcasing their gambling at land-based casinos.
Content creators like Vegas Matt, NG Slot, and Lady Luck HQ feature their high-stakes play on slot machines and table games. While these individuals have built a significant audience by publishing content, the casinos are also getting plenty of publicity.
they often have partnerships with the gambling facilities
If you’ve ever wondered how these influencers choose the casinos where they gamble, you might be surprised to learn that they often have partnerships with the gambling facilities.
Some receive comps and a certain amount of free play credits to gamble with during their videos, while others negotiate a flat rate per video. This raises the question whether viewers care if these creators are actually risking their own money to bet or just using free play.
Endorsement or gambling?
While the concept of watching other people gamble might be alien to some, it’s becoming increasingly popular. For instance, Vegas Matt has more than 1.2 million YouTube subscribers and regularly garners hundreds of thousands of views on his videos.
like the thrill of watching his high-stakes slot machine sessions
People like the thrill of watching his high-stakes slot machine sessions filmed at Las Vegas casinos. He often gives his live commentary and animated reactions to the gameplay.
Many people enjoy the seemingly authentic nature of his content. However, local expert Vital Vegas recently reported the rumors that he uses free play rather than his own money:
NG Slot, who has more than 1 million YouTube subscribers, replied to this post by saying that any high roller in Vegas will get free play as an incentive to keep gambling at the property and outlined what sort of deals he gets:
Two sides to the coin
Some social media users have questioned why streamers tend to only show content from the same casino. One reason is that some of the bigger casino companies, like Caesars Entertainment, don’t allow streaming, while the smaller properties are looking to drum up attention in any way they can.
Certain content creators simply enjoy the comp-level treatment they get, receiving perks in return for their business, even if they’re betting out of their own pockets.
The matter really boils down to whether or not a creator should disclose what type of perks they’re getting from a casino and if this relationship impacts what they film, say, and how they showcase wins and losses.
Some argue that undisclosed perks could lead to bias in the content, making a casino look better than what it is in reality or encouraging irresponsible betting. Others say the experience is authentic either way, as the spins and losses are real.
A touchy subject in the online world
Using free play credits is also a hot topic in the world of streaming. Kick superstar Trainwreck, who claims to be the highest paid streamer in the world, frequently calls out his rivals for allegedly using fake balance funds to bet big.
In October, he pointed out that one of Roshtein’s big wins didn’t appear on the NoLimit City leaderboard, which he believed meant that the win was achieved using a fake balance. Roshtein subsequently posted a screenshot of the updated leaderboard showing his $24m win.
latest flashpoint was when Roshtein hit a world record online slot win of $45.5m
The latest flashpoint was when Roshtein hit a world record online slot win of $45.5m just a week after Trainwreck set the new all-time high of $37.5m. Trainwreck called his rival a “fraudulent leech”.
Sometimes the streamers visit land-based casinos to try their hand at in-person gaming. Xposed lost big sums gambling at Resorts World Las Vegas, yet rival streamer Syztmz claimed that his reactions were fake and alleged he was using fake money. Xposed proceeded to post screenshots of receipts of his payments at the casino:
Showcasing how streamers don’t always get preferential treatment at casinos, one member of Xposed’s entourage was recently denied a comped smoothie despite playing $25,000 hands of blackjack.
