YouTube has introduced stricter guidelines targeting gambling-related content as online betting gains popularity in the United States. The platform’s updated policy prohibits content that directs users to unapproved gambling websites through links, images, text, logos, or verbal references. Unapproved sites are defined as those that fail to meet local legal requirements or have not been reviewed by YouTube or its parent company, Google.
This update expands on YouTube’s existing policies, which already ban links to external sites that violate its rules. The latest measures aim to curb the influence of gambling-related content, which has surged alongside the growth of online sports betting and other prediction markets following the 2018 Supreme Court decision allowing states to legalize sports gambling.
In addition to prohibiting links to unapproved sites, YouTube will introduce age restrictions on content promoting online casinos. Viewers who are under 18 or not signed into their accounts will be restricted from accessing these videos. The updated guidelines address growing concerns about the heightened risk of gambling addiction, with experts cautioning that millions of Americans could be at significant risk due to the expanding accessibility of online betting options.
Another significant change in YouTube’s policy is the ban on content that promises guaranteed returns from gambling, even if the websites being promoted are approved. Previously, the platform prohibited content featuring sensational language that promised certain winnings or recovery of losses. The updated language now makes it clear that any promises of guaranteed earnings from online betting sites will lead to removal.
The swift growth of online sports betting has turned it into a profitable industry, with numerous videos offering advice on making money from sports and prediction markets, drawing in hundreds of thousands of views. However, the varying regulations surrounding online betting across different locations make it challenging to monitor and regulate such content effectively.
The latest policy update is part of a broader effort by YouTube to refine its content moderation strategies. In recent years, the platform has removed videos containing misinformation about vaccines, abortion, and eating disorders, as well as content featuring potentially harmful behaviors like extreme calorie counting. In 2023, YouTube also introduced requirements for users to disclose certain AI-generated content that could mislead viewers.
Despite these efforts, enforcement has been a persistent challenge for YouTube. Many social media platforms, including YouTube, have faced criticism for failing to uphold their content moderation policies consistently. The effectiveness of the new gambling-related restrictions will depend largely on the platform’s ability to monitor and remove prohibited content promptly.
The updated guidelines on gambling content will be enforced starting March 19, marking the latest step in YouTube’s evolving approach to content moderation as it navigates the complex landscape of online betting and regulatory compliance.