In September 2022, Jan Böhmermann criticized German Twitch streamers like Trymacs and MontanaBlack in his show ZDF Magazin Royale for enticing children and teenagers to gamble by opening loot boxes in FIFA. A year later, MontanaBlack currently has the world’s largest Twitch stream for EA FC 24. He opens loot boxes. However, Trymacs underwent a change of mind.
This was the story a year ago:
- On September 16, 2022, satirist Jan Böhmermann addressed the issue of “loot boxes” in his ZDF show (via youtube).
- In doing so, he appeared as a parody of the German Twitch streamer MontanaBlack and indirectly accused German streamers of enthusiastically buying and opening loot boxes live, contributing to the normalization of loot boxes. The implied accusation was that they make gambling appealing to children and teenagers.
- MontanaBlack largely agreed with the criticism but stated that it was not his responsibility to change anything. That should be done by the government. Trymacs said that Böhmermann was clearly not referring to him. He had always been critical of EA. However, his chat corrected him: Yes, he was definitely meant.
Trymacs understood the criticism – MontanaBlack apparently did not
Did the call do anything?? Meanwhile, the successor to FIFA 22 and FIFA 23 has been released, the game EA Sports FC 24.
The world’s largest Twitch stream for the football game is once again MontanaBlack, who is currently opening loot boxes with Solution. His criticism of the system was that he complained that women are now included in the loot boxes. This reduces the chances of drawing male players, whom he wants because he can identify with them.
Also Trymacs, who had distanced himself from FIFA in the meantime, announced that he will show the game on Twitch. The 29-year-old has developed a critical attitude towards loot boxes.
He says he will show the football game, but only modes like Pro Clubs or Career Mode. He will no longer play the loot box mode “Ultimate Team.” That is a “complete online casino” for kids, according to Trymacs.
Gambling on Twitch is at an all-time high
What about gambling on Twitch otherwise?? Although Twitch officially banned casino streams at the provider Stake on Twitch in 2022, a year later gambling on Twitch is at a new all-time high.
In the English-speaking Twitch, however, they do not open packs in FIFA, but loot boxes in CS:GO. An earlier gaming star like Ninja is so enthusiastic that he even does it at weddings. DrDisrespect has also fallen for opening boxes.
Streamers who previously showed casinos, like xQc or Trainwreck, are now opening boxes in CS:GO. Here, too, it’s about losing tickets and high winnings.
Especially with the simultaneous release of Counter-Strike 2 and E Sports FC, which are only a few days apart, a new peak time for loot boxes and gambling on Twitch is likely to have begun.
More on the criticism from Jan Böhmermann and the show back then can be read here:
