Streamer Felix “xQc” Lengyel once quit gambling but has recently given into temptation once again. This time, his gambling addiction lost him $1.8 million over the the span of a month.
xQc used to be one of the biggest gambling streamers but started to feel concerned about not only his own mental health, but how he may be influencing his young audience.
“We’re not doing gambling. I’m done with it. I’m absolutely done with it. I get addicted to things very, very easily. I noticed that my brain is kind of going crazy so I have to stop,”
xQc said
in June 2021.
But xQc was
pulled into the gambling life again
in 2022. In April, he admitted that he had an “illness,” saying he has an addictive personality. When some of his viewers expressed concern about how it may inspire his young fans to also gamble, xQc replied that he can afford to be ill.
It seems that xQc was telling the truth. Not many people can afford to lose $1.8 million in one month, but xQc is the top-earning streamer on Twitch according to leaked documents. He
reportedly made over $8 million
on Twitch since 2019 in just subscriptions, ad revenue, and bit donations.
xQc concerns family with gambling addiction
In a podcast with fellow streamer Imane “Pokimane” Anys, xQc opened up about the extent of his gambling addiction. Apparently it’s more than just a joke on stream, with xQc losing over $1.8 million gambling in one month alone.
After the May 1 podcast, xQc’s father called him to voice concern with the extent of his gambling addiction. xQc told his dad not to worry, saying that any article about him losing the money was just “clickbait.”
“I lose money sometimes. It happens. What’s up?” xQc ranted.
During the discussion, xQc’s dad called him his “little boy,” which prompted xQc to joke he’s 110 years old. While his audience found the exchange funny, it seems that his family is not as pleased with his gambling addiction.
Gambling has been a big debate on Twitch, with many streamers feeling it’s wrong to visit gambling sites and promote gambling games due to their influence on large audiences. Gambling is a huge industry that is common in many parts of the world, but there’s no question that gambling addiction is a real phenomenon that can ruin lives.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
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