Hi Pirate Ben,

This is not a bug. Spectating games is limited to players who either have a subscription or have reached level one (one dot on the dice).

New accounts don’t have a dice yet. 

The dice represents the so-called old‑timer score, a system designed to reflect a player’s long‑term commitment and conduct.
It is primarily based on total playtime.
To earn your first dot, and to level up, simply keep playing the games and stick to the rules. 

Kind regards,
John