Match Rules and Referee Code of Conduct

These rules apply to every live stream match on PlayStake: a challenge between two players on a console or PC game, streamed on Kick and decided by a referee. They sit alongside our Terms and Fair Play policy. Matches in PlayStake's own games, such as Darts 301, are decided by our servers and follow the rules shown on each game.

• You must be 18 or over, with a verified identity, playing from your own account.
• You can't play while on a cool-off break or self-excluded.
• The same two players can play each other at most 5 times in any hour.

Match Rules version 2026-10-01.

• Go live on your own Kick channel, connected to your PlayStake account, playing the game you both declared. A referee can only start the match while both of you are live on that game.
• Show the game clearly. Your stream must show the full game screen, including the score, for the whole match. Don't cover, blur or crop it, and keep any stream delay to the minimum Kick allows.
• Agree the settings on stream before the referee starts the match: mode, length, and any team or ruleset limits. Say them on your stream so they're on the record. If you don't agree anything, the game's standard online one-against-one settings apply.
• Be ready on time. If no referee takes the match within 10 minutes of it being agreed, it is cancelled and both stakes are returned in full.

• Play it yourself. Nobody else may play, control or advise you during the match.
• No cheating. No cheats, hacks, mods, macros, scripts, bots or any software that plays or aims for you, and no deliberate use of bugs or glitches.
• No fixing. Never agree a result, lose on purpose, or arrange anything with your opponent or anyone else about the outcome.
• Stay live on the declared game until the referee records the result.
• Be respectful. No abuse, threats, harassment or discrimination towards your opponent, the referee or anyone in chat.
• Leave the referee to decide. The referee posts in match chat, which you can read; anything you need to tell them, say on your stream. Never try to pressure or reward them, and don't contact them privately about the result.

• If your stream or game drops, reconnect as quickly as you can and say what happened on your stream. The referee will post in match chat what happens next.
• The referee decides what is fair from what both streams show: carry on, replay the affected part, or award the match. If a player hasn't returned within 10 minutes, the referee may award the match to the other player.
• A match must be finished within 2 hours of starting. If it isn't, it is cancelled and both stakes are returned in full.
• If something goes wrong on PlayStake's side, we review the match and either return both stakes or correct the result.

• The referee records the result (a win for either player, or a draw) with written notes on what decided it.
• Either player can dispute the decision from the bet page within 15 minutes. Nothing is paid out until that time has passed. Say what you think was wrong and point to the moment on stream.
• Our team reviews both streams, match chat and the referee's notes, and either upholds or corrects the result. Every step is kept on a record that can't be edited.
• If you're unhappy with how a dispute was handled, use our complaints procedure, and after our final response you can go to IBAS, the independent adjudicator.

Referees are approved by PlayStake to officiate live stream matches. Every referee agrees to this Code before they can officiate, and again whenever it changes. Referees earn 10% of the platform fee on each match they officiate, paid when the match settles.

• You must be 18 or over, with a verified identity and a connected Kick account.
• Only officiate games PlayStake has approved you for.
• Only make yourself available when you can give a match your full attention. Claim a match only if you can start it within 5 minutes; otherwise it passes to another referee.
• You can officiate one match at a time, and must stay for the whole match.

Code of Conduct version 2026-10-01.

• Never officiate a match you are playing in.
• Don't officiate if you know either player personally, share a household or team with them, or have any financial link to them. If you realise this after claiming, release the match and tell us.
• Never bet on a match you officiate, or let anyone bet on your behalf, and never share inside information about a match.
• Don't accept gifts, tips or payments from players, other than your PlayStake fee.

• Go live on your own Kick channel before you start, so the call is made in the open.
• Before starting, check both players are live on the declared game and have agreed the settings on stream.
• Watch both streams for the whole match.
• Stay neutral: don't coach or advise either player, and communicate with players only in match chat. Be courteous, even when they aren't.
• Report anything that looks like cheating, fixing or a player who isn't who they should be, in your decision notes.

• Decide only on what you saw on the streams, not on what anyone tells you.
• Write clear notes: the final score, what decided the match, and the time on stream of any key moment.
• If you can't tell who won from the streams, record a draw and explain why.
• Don't change a decision because of pressure from a player. Help our team if a decision is disputed.
• Keep players' personal details, match chat and disputes private. Don't discuss them in public.

If a player or referee breaks these rules, depending on how serious it is, we may: