Twitch clarifies guidelines for CS2 StarLadder Major amid gambling sponsorship concerns

Twitch has confirmed that creators are free to co-stream the upcoming StarLadder Budapest CS2 Major without risking account penalties, clearing up a wave of anxiety triggered by the tournament’s partnership with gambling site Rollbit.

The clarification arrives just days before the event begins and puts an end to widespread concern among Counter-Strike streamers who feared automatic bans for showing the broadcast. The issue surfaced when StarLadder announced that Rollbit would serve as the main betting sponsor for the year-ending Major, which will run from Nov. 24 to Dec. 14.

Since Rollbit appears on Twitch’s list of prohibited gambling platforms, some creators questioned whether they would be punished for broadcasting a stream containing visible Rollbit logos. Many believed that even passive exposure to banned branding could violate Twitch policy.

However, Twitch addressed the situation in a statement to Dexerto, confirming that the Major’s sponsorship does not break any rules. The platform explained that creators can co-stream the tournament while following specific guidelines.

“While the StarLadder CS Major will be streamed on Twitch, the Rollbit event sponsorship does not violate our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service, as the event and sponsor have agreed to limit the sponsorship during the stream to physical branding only,” the statement reads.

“As stated in our Community Guidelines, we specifically prohibit the sharing of links or affiliate codes to sites that contain slots, roulette, or dice games. While Rollbit is a prohibited site, that prohibition is specifically for streaming content directly from that site, linking to the site in chat, including a banner in stream that links to the site or verbally referring to the website on stream. As such, the sole use of physical branding does not violate these terms.”

This means streamers must avoid any verbal references to Rollbit, may not use affiliate links, and cannot show Rollbit gameplay. They are allowed to show the official broadcast, which contains Rollbit branding, but they cannot promote the company in any active way.

This distinction between passive and active promotion became the central point of clarity. Twitch made it clear that Rollbit’s logo appearing on the HUD, during pause screens, or on stage graphics is acceptable. What is not allowed is discussing the sponsor, directing viewers to the site, or offering any form of endorsement.

StarLadder also released its own community broadcast guidelines on Nov. 16, outlining rules for non-commercial streams. These include restrictions intended to protect the event’s commercial partners while still allowing community creators to participate. Some streamers have expressed concern that these guidelines may limit their ability to monetize their broadcasts, but overall, the response to Twitch’s clarification has been positive.

Co-streaming has long been a pillar of Counter-Strike’s esports culture, with creators offering commentary, analysis, and entertainment alongside official broadcasts. Without Twitch’s confirmation, many would have been forced into uncomfortable alternatives, such as switching to platforms like Kick, watching through GOTV with significant delay, or avoiding co-streaming altogether.

With the situation now resolved, streamers can move forward with plans to co-stream the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. The event begins on Nov. 24 and features 32 top global teams competing for a $1.25 million prize pool.

Streamers simply need to avoid verbally promoting Rollbit while relying on StarLadder’s approval system for community broadcasts. The community now hopes the remaining administrative steps proceed without complications as one of the year’s biggest CS2 events gets underway.