After some trial and error, Zach “Mystic Zach” Hirsch has determined how to toe the content line. The sports betting analyst and commentator has nearly 2 million Instagram followers, and a Draft Kings-sponsored podcast, Double Coverage, that boasts millions of views across YouTube and TikTok.
But not long ago, one of Hirsch’s biggest videos (both in terms of views and in terms of guests, as it was an interview with fellow creator-turned-boxer Jake Paul) was taken off YouTube, reportedly because it was sponsored by an offshore betting company Hirsch wouldn’t name, rather than one of the more mainstream platforms like Draft Kings, which is vetted by Google and available state-by-state depending on local gambling laws. The offshore sportsbooks exist in a sort of legal gray area — they’re unlicensed in the U.S., but federal law targets the operators and payment processors rather than the bettors themselves. Still, the takedown threw his content approach into relief and forced him to take a step back.
“That was really scary,” said Hirsch. He said the company wasn’t an approved Google vendor, which seemingly prompted the strike, but didn’t provide details.
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