Searching for reasoning
Hustler Casino claimed that YouTube and its representatives did not supply an explanation why the channel was suspended.
Ryan Feldman, co-owner of the channel, told PokerNews that he believed the suspension “has to do with advertisers [YouTube doesn’t] like.”
"[It’s] impossible to get specifics from anyone there. You can't talk to humans," Feldman said.
Feldman also expressed concern that the suspension could lead to recurring problems with the platform.
"We're afraid it's gonna trigger the algorithm with all our old videos," he said.
YouTube policy allows for gambling advertisements and video sponsors. However, it states that advertisements must target approved countries, have a landing page that shares pertinent information about responsible gambling, and may not target minors.
Hustler Casino Live has more than 361,000 subscribers and 186 million combined views. Its last full day of streaming, which was Saturday at the time of writing, generated more than 413,000 views.
All of the page’s old videos are still up for public consumption during the suspension. However, YouTube may add “strikes” to old videos if they are deemed to have infringed upon the gambling policy.
Hustler Casino’s history and outlook
If Feldman’s concerns about recurring issues prove to be valid, the Hustler Casino Live page could become at risk of being terminated. YouTube’s terms of service says that any channel that received three strikes in the same 90-day period will be deleted, even if the channel deleted the videos that caused the strike.
YouTube may also add strikes to deleted videos, meaning that a purge of the Hustler channel wouldn’t guarantee its safety.
Feldman streamed the weekly show Max Pain Monday on his Twitch channel on Monday.
Hustler Casino welcomed Dead Money star Emile Hirsch in a no-limit Hold’Em game over the weekend.
In June, the casino had a star-studded guestlist that included Jimmy Butler, Neymar Jr., Ryan Garcia, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, Chris Eubank Jr., Dan Bilzerian, and more. The event was deemed “Legends of the Felt.”
Hustler Casino general manager Shaun Yaple said he chose Feldman and co-owner Nick Vertucci for the Live channel because “They share[d] our goal of providing a top-quality product for poker fans around the globe.”