Finnish Twitch Streamer Risks Penalty for Unauthorized Gambling Promotions

Finnish entrepreneur Jethro Rostedt risks financial penalties after regulators determined that prohibited gambling promotions were consistently displayed on his Twitch channel despite a 2024 ban. The National Police Board, citing Iltalehti reports, alleges that the content deliberately targeted Finnish audiences through betting offers and platform links, in violation of national advertising rules.

The dispute originated when authorities imposed a €30,000 conditional fine alongside an order blocking gambling-related streams passed in December 2024. Recent audits revealed ongoing compliance failures, though officials now propose enforcing a reduced penalty.

Compliance Failures

Finnish authorities have recurring, coordinated gambling promotions on media figure Rostedt’s Twitch channel. The content, including explicit betting invitations, participation incentives, and direct access links to gambling sites, was all allegedly designed to engage Finnish audiences.

Investigators uncovered archived content featuring cartoon avatars resembling Rostedt and affiliate marketing codes tied to gambling platforms. A dedicated section named after Rostedt’s online alias on one betting site reportedly strengthened perceived endorsements, according to the National Police Board.

The probe, initiated by a May 2024 public tip, found that these materials remained accessible months after enforcement orders. Officials argue the campaign’s geographic targeting and commercial intent violate Finland’s strict gambling laws, which permit only state-owned Veikkaus to advertise domestically.

Rostedt Denies Wrongdoing

Rostedt has formally contested regulatory allegations, denying any role as a gambling advertiser or affiliate partner. In October 2024 submissions to authorities, Rostedt emphasized Twitch’s limitations on global reach, arguing that streamers cannot geographically target their content. He maintained that acknowledging Finnish viewers during broadcasts did not constitute prohibited promotion.

The media personality distanced himself from archived material, stating he only controlled the channel during live streams. Rostedt asserted he instructed account administrators to remove residual content and was unaware of lingering gambling-related clips. He also denied financial ties, claiming there were no payments, affiliate agreements, or casino contracts. Following the dispute, Rostedt halted all Twitch activities.

Partial Compliance

Finnish regulators acknowledged in October 2025 that Jethro Rostedt partially complied with the gambling promotion ban by removing some content and halting new uploads. However, archived material was still available nearly a year after the prohibition. This prompted authorities to reduce the conditional fine from €30,000 to €25,000, while reserving the right to enforce it or levy new penalties for continued violations.

Rostedt denounced the revised fine as disproportionate, claiming he is financially unable to pay. He criticized the 13-month delay between his October 2-24 response and the board’s latest notice.