Nairo hit with YouTube copyright strike for betting in Smash Ultimate

NRG Esports Smash player Nairoby “Nairo” Quezada isn’t just a great competitor but also one of the biggest Super Smash Bros. content creators. However, all that good work seems to be at risk. 

YouTube’s copyright system has flagged three of Nairo’s videos for featuring gambling. His series “Bets It All,” sees Nairo bet on the outcome of online matches using Smash Ultimate’s Spectator mode and his ingame currency. Coins and prediction points can be used to purchase content in the game but have no monetary value.

However, YouTube’s system still found these videos worthy of a Community Guidelines strike. What’s worse is, the flagged videos are quite old, with the most recent posted in May 2018. As Nairo has around a hundred videos in the series, more strikes could be imminent, and this could spell disaster. 

YouTube employes a three-strike system, with the first resulting in a one week ban that prevents the user from uploading and streaming content. Another strike within 90 days will lead to either an extension of the first ban or the addition of a two-week ban. One more strike and the user’s channel will get shutdown. It is possible to appeal, but the punishment will continue while the case undergoes review. 

Nairo’s account has over five years’ worth of content, 217,000 subscribers, and over 54 million views, so losing it would be devastating. He has appealed the strike but still awaiting word from YouTube and has asked for help from the community to fast-track the process. 

There’s hope that Nairo’s predicament will be cleared up, but the future of his show, Bet It All, is in question.