- Gambling content creators on YouTube are struggling with the platform’s recent policy update regarding age restriction.
- The update prevents users under 18 and those not logged into YouTube from viewing any videos with gambling content, regardless of how it’s being portrayed.
- This has led to videos intended for 18+ audiences being impossible to monetize and undiscoverable in YouTube’s algorithm, hurting creators.
SAN BRUNO, Calif. – YouTube’s gambling policy update isn’t working as intended. Even though gambling content creators’ intended audience is for 18+ users, the new update tanks views, prevents monetization, and crushes revenue due to age restriction labeling.
The YouTube update intended to crack down on videos that redirect users to online gambling sites and implement age-restriction on content that promotes online casinos. While that sounds pretty logical, the update has since made it impossible for rule-abiding gambling content creators to make successful videos.
As online poker creator Nick Eastwood said on his YouTube video, the videos are undiscoverable and impossible to monetize due to the age-restriction labeling. If the videos aren’t promoted through YouTube’s algorithm and are labeled as “not suitable for ads,” gambling content creators will be out of business despite their target audience being 18+.
YouTube Sports Betting Content Struggling As Well
While poker content creators have noted the new struggles due to policy changes, the same goes for online sports betting content on YouTube. Creator Captain Jack Andrews noted that YouTube flagged one of his most successful videos helping inform inexperienced bettors due to “promoting unregulated gambling”.
YouTube considers any sites that are uncertified by Google as “unapproved” gambling sites. The policy targets any logos or verbal references to these platforms and not just links, making it incredibly difficult for gambling content creators to make informative videos.