Should Creators Join Kick Despite Its Gambling Ties? Here’s What I Think

I’ve always been skeptical about platforms that come out of nowhere and suddenly start throwing big money at creators. It feels like a too-good-to-be-true moment, and usually, it is.

Kick, the new streaming platform backed by Stake.com, is one of those platforms. It launched fast, offered massive contracts to streamers, and promised a creator-first model with better revenue splits. Naturally, it caught the attention of a lot of people in the content world, including me.

The Creator Dilemma

If you’re a creator trying to grow your brand, your income, and your community, Kick sounds like a dream. You get 95% of your subscription revenue. Compare that to Twitch’s 50/50 split and it’s easy to see why so many people are interested.

And yeah, discoverability on Kick is much better right now. The platform isn’t overcrowded yet, so getting noticed is actually possible. Unlike Twitch, where you’re often buried under thousands of other streamers grinding with the same setup.

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But here’s the real question. How do you justify joining a platform that is closely tied to gambling, especially when a large part of your audience might be young or vulnerable?

But Look Who’s Cashing In

Kick has pulled in some massive names by handing out eye-watering deals. Here are a few that made headlines:

• xQc, one of the biggest names in livestreaming, signed a $100 million deal. That’s not a typo. It was one of the largest creator contracts in history.
• Amouranth jumped ship with a multi-million dollar contract, which reportedly includes equity and creative freedom.
• Adin Ross revealed that Kick paid him over $10 million. He was one of the earliest major Twitch streamers to make the switch.
• Trainwreckstv is not just a creator on Kick. He’s also a strategic advisor who helped shape the platform’s business model and streaming policies.

It’s obvious what Kick is doing here. They’re not just attracting creators. They’re buying influence, legitimacy, and attention.

Where I Personally Draw the Line

I’m not anti-gambling. People can spend their money however they want. But when gambling starts blending into mainstream entertainment, without context or disclaimers, it gets dangerous. There’s a reason Twitch banned unregulated gambling sites.

Kick, on the other hand, seems to be fully embracing that side of the content world. You don’t have to stream gambling to be on Kick, but a big part of the platform’s traffic still revolves around it. Whether you like it or not, being there means you’re part of that ecosystem.

That makes me pause.

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The Money Is Real, But So Are the Risks

Let’s be honest. If someone offered you $100k or more to switch platforms, you’d at least think about it. Especially if you’re a smaller or mid-tier creator trying to make a living. Kick’s deals are life-changing for some.

But reputation matters. Audience trust matters. And aligning your brand with a platform that’s backed by a crypto gambling company carries real risks. If things go sideways, that partnership might haunt you longer than you think.

What Kind of Audience Are You Building?

One more thing that doesn’t get talked about enough. The audience on Kick is very different right now. A large part of it shows up for gambling content, high-energy drama, or creators who were banned elsewhere. Will that same crowd care about your productivity streams, tech reviews, or art content?

Maybe. But don’t count on it.

So while Kick can boost your visibility quickly, you need to ask yourself whether that growth is sustainable and aligned with your content goals.

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My Take

For now, I’m staying off Kick. I love the idea of platforms challenging the status quo, and I respect creators who negotiate better terms for themselves. But I can’t ignore the platform’s core business ties. It doesn’t sit right with me.

That said, I’m not judging anyone who chooses to try it. I get the hustle. We’re all figuring out how to survive and thrive in this ever-changing space. Just make sure you know what you’re signing up for, and always have a backup plan.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this creator economy, it’s this — hype fades, but your choices stick around.