YouTube tightens rules on gambling content, age-restricts online betting videos

YouTube has announced new restrictions on gambling-related content, aiming to limit access to unapproved gambling websites and strengthen protections for younger viewers. The updated policy, set to take effect on March 19, 2025, will prohibit creators from including links, images, logos, or verbal references to gambling websites that do not meet local legal requirements or have not been reviewed by YouTube or its parent company, Google.

The move comes as online sports betting has gained popularity in the United States following the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to allow states to legalize sports gambling. With the growing market, YouTube videos promoting strategies to earn money through online betting have attracted large audiences, raising concerns about the potential for gambling addiction among viewers.

The new policy builds on YouTube’s existing rules, which already prohibited creators from linking to external sites that violate platform guidelines. The update specifically targets unapproved gambling websites and adds a new layer of content moderation by age-restricting videos that promote online casinos. This means that users under the age of 18 and those not logged in will be unable to access such videos.

YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle explained the platform’s stance in an exclusive statement to CNN, saying: “We’ve strengthened our policies that prohibit content directing viewers to unapproved gambling websites or applications. We will also begin age-restricting content that promotes online casinos.”

YouTube also stated that content making "guaranteed returns" promises will be removed, even if the promotions are associated with approved gambling sites. This shift aims to prevent misleading claims that could exploit vulnerable audiences.

In recent years, the platform has removed videos with false claims about vaccines, abortion, and eating disorder-related behaviors. Additionally, YouTube has implemented rules requiring creators to disclose artificial intelligence-generated content that could potentially mislead viewers.

The platform's latest crackdown on gambling content is part of an effort to close loopholes in existing policies, which previously allowed indirect promotions through visual and verbal cues. The new rules aim to provide a safer environment for viewers, particularly younger audiences, by preventing exposure to potentially harmful gambling content.

For many social media companies, enforcing content moderation policies has proven challenging. While YouTube has established clear rules, maintaining compliance across millions of videos remains a task. The platform has pledged to update its guidelines and begin enforcing the new standards next month, focusing on the consistent application of its policies.