Twitch streamer Sliker made headlines this previous weekend over allegations about scamming, playing dependancy, and extra.
On Sunday, September seventeenth, even if you happen to hadn’t heard his title earlier than, Twitch streamer Sliker was the subject of debate throughout Twitter, Reddit, and past. Allegations that Sliker had scammed over $300,000 out of associates, acquaintances, and Twitch personalities appeared throughout the web. As increasingly more individuals got here out to say they’d loaned cash to the streamer, a deep net of controversy and deception was uncovered.
What did Silker do?
Sliker is a UK-based Twitch selection stream identified for CS:GO, Valorant, and different in style stream video games. By connections made by way of collaborations and streaming, it’s alleged that the streamer borrowed sums of cash, starting from $1000 to $50,000 {dollars} from a variety of associates and acquaintances. This cash was by no means repaid, resulting in allegations of scamming.
Sliker made quite a few claims as to the reasoning behind these loans and borrowed quantities. Nevertheless the purported precise purpose is allegedly on account of spiraling playing money owed. Whereas Sliker not often had playing facets to his streams or content material, he has appeared in a variety of Poker streams, together with BotezLive poker, and Creator Poker occasion.
These allegations of scamming got here to mild over the previous weekend (September seventeenth – September 18th) as a variety of associates and viewers outed the streamer over borrowed cash. YouTuber LukeAFK, who was additionally a mod for Sliker’s channel, revealed that Sliker had borrowed round $27k from him.
A number of excessive profile streamers, together with xQc and Trainwreck, had reportedly been requested for cash by Sliker. Trainwreck reportedly gave the streamer a big quantity (reportedly $100,000) to assist finish his playing money owed. Nevertheless, the quantity didn’t finish Sliker’s cash woes, and the streamer continued to borrow cash.
How a lot cash does Sliker owe?
Whereas the true quantity might by no means be identified, some estimations place this at over $300,000. Trainwreck alone reportedly paid the streamer $100,000, whereas a number of individuals have come ahead with quantities starting from $1,000, to $50,000 {dollars}.
Timeline of occasions
September seventeenth – Allegations about Sliker floor
On September seventeenth, the primary allegations about Sliker surfaced. Though many rumors had gone round beforehand, it was Sliker personal mods hijacking his Twitch channel to let everybody know in regards to the streamer’s unscrupulous actions.
Subsequently, multiple people responded on Twitter saying they’d had comparable experiences with Silker.
September 18th – An apology
The allegations in opposition to Sliker develop. Round 20 totally different individuals have now shared allegations about Sliker.
Sliker releases an emotional video apologizing to everybody, stating that he “by no means meant in scamming” these contain. He pledged to pay again all he’d “borrowed” cash off, and defined that his actions have been on account of him being an playing addict.
This apology appears to spark a motion in the direction of banning playing on Twitch, though Sliker defined that his playing downside was with Sports activities Playing, fairly than something broadcast on Twitch. Sliker additionally took half in a number of poker tournaments broadcast on the platform.
Sliker additionally claims he was provided a playing sponsorship off the again of the scamming allegations. Nevertheless, these claims are very doubtful.
xQc offers to go 50/50 with Trainwreck in refunding everybody who was scammed by Sliker. This reimbursement quantity would reportedly be within the a whole bunch of hundreds.
September nineteenth – Motion in opposition to playing on Twitch
The motion to ban playing on Twitch seemingly beneficial properties momentum, with MizKif, Pokimane and others making requires it to be banned.
Moreover, extra allegations come out in regards to the streamer. Nevertheless, many are actually extra targeted on Twitch, and banning playing than those that have been scammed out of cash.
Sliker goes stay and streams for one more half-hour.
The battle turns nasty as Trainwreck responds to Asmongold on Twitter, when the latter questions why Sliker isn’t banned on Twitter. Practice states that its as a result of Asmongold and “friends” are trying to make use of Twitch to twist it into waging a warfare in opposition to playing and Trainwreck. Mizkif fires again that Practice allegedly scammed individuals together with his jolt coin. Trainwreck makes allegations that Mizkif used Maya Higa and Mitch Jones to maintain sexual assaults coated up. Different’s hearth again with allegations about Practice that Alinity made a couple of years in the past.
Mizkif later deleted the tweet. Trainwreck’s allegations purportedly discuss with an incident in 2021 between Crazyslick and Adrianah Lee.
Is what Sliker did unlawful?
Some observers are questioning whether or not what Sliker did is against the law. Relying on the nation, what Sliker did ranges from mildly unlawful, to a serious crime.
Within the US, the rip-off could be think about a fraud solely in sure states. Scamming people by way of bad-faith loans isn’t a federal crime within the US.
Within the UK, the place Sliker at the moment resides, you possibly can take a good friend or household to Small Claims Court docket, even if you happen to don’t have a proper mortgage settlement. Beneath English regulation, a courtroom might rule that emails, textual content messages, or social media messages, coupled with proof that the funds have been made, would represent a authorized contract. Meaning that there’s a authorized choice for anybody who would need to seize a refund from Sliker.
Evaluation on the Sliker drama
Playing dependancy, like all types of dependancy, is insidious and harmful. Addicts, who really need to be higher and take steps to remedy their dependancy can’t depend on others. Each single rehabilitation program value a grain of salt has tenets about taking private duty, making amends to those that you may have harmed by way of your dependancy, and eradicating your self from locations that will have you ever interact together with your dependancy once more.
If Sliker really desires to deal with his dependancy, big streamers paying off his money owed will do nothing for him. The one means will probably be to take private duty. Sliker should grow to be keen to make direct amends and persevering with to take private stock. Or at the very least that’s what one outstanding dependancy program suggests.
Nevertheless, the revelations about Sliker’s playing points have sparked one thing within the wider Twitch group, which is optimistic. Sadly, Twitch streamer guarantees are sometimes empty, and any protest must see them truly comply with by way of. One thing that appears extremely uncertain.
Moreover, a puritanical and senseless witch hunt in opposition to playing helps nobody. As a substitute, efforts needs to be made to carry streaming in step with the requirements that broadcasting and print promoting already has to stick to. Playing is strictly policed in all promoting areas… besides streaming. That has to vary sooner or later.
For those who or somebody you realize is struggling with a playing dependancy, attain out. GamCare is an playing assist charity with on-line stay chat accessible.
