YouTube to target 'unapproved' gambling sites in new rules update

YouTube has become the latest video sharing platform to have moved against the gambling industry, and in particular, the part of the industry that does not meet specific local license or regulation rules.

Reminding of the Twitch ban on gambling, YouTube announced on Tuesday that it would no longer tolerate content that promotes "unapproved gambling websites" or in other words, websites that are not licensed in specific jurisdictions.

YouTube to revise gambling content rules, tighten video content policies

The measure, similar to what Twitch started doing in 2022, prohibits all forms of promotional marketing, whether this comes in the form of lines, images, text, logos, or even verbal mentions during a video. In a statement, YouTube said:

"We know this update may impact creators who focus on online gambling content like casino games and applications, but we believe these changes are a necessary step in protecting our community, especially younger viewers."

The definition of an "unapproved gambling site" can naturally be tricky, since YouTube is a global company, and this means that although a website may be licensed in one jurisdiction, this does not give it an explicit right to operate in another.

To this end, YouTube says that websites that do not meet local laws and that haven’t been approved by the platform or its parent company, Google, will be deemed "unapproved."

Commenting on CNN, a media outlet, on Tuesday, YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle told the media that the company had strengthened its policies to ensure that consumers are not exposed to this type of content.

Further tweaks to YouTube’s policy include age restrictions on betting content, with users who are under the age of 18 or not currently logged in to verify their age unable to access such videos. Similarly, the platform pays attention to how betting and gambling are being promoted.

Similar to the "risk-free" saga in the United States, YouTube has said that it is now taking a dim view of materials that promote gambling as a way to accumulate "guaranteed winnings," for example, or in other words shifting the policy towards acknowledging the facts, i.e. gambling is based on chance and players win by accident.

YouTube is facing pressure in multiple jurisdictions

Certain jurisdictions have been particularly insistent when it comes to video-sharing platforms protecting consumers.

YouTube and Twitch have faced pushback in Italy, where local regulators have demanded that the companies ensure that they do not help promote illegal gambling, referring to platforms that target Italian players without the appropriate licenses.

The change to YouTube’s policies is going to kick off on March 19, and the new policies will be applied right away without delay.

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