Are Casino Streamers in Trouble with YouTube’s New Policy?
Effective March 19, 2025, YouTube will be implementing far stricter rules regarding gambling content, which will likely shift the entire casino content industry.
Continue reading on Slot Streamers Bio as we examine the new restrictions, exemptions, and the broader implications for the online gambling industry.
What’s New in YouTube’s Gambling Policy?
Key Policy Updates:
- Prohibited Actions:
- Restrictions on links, images, text, and logos directing users to uncertified gambling websites.
- Ban on content promising “guaranteed returns,” even for legal platforms.
- Prohibition of verbal references to unapproved gambling sites.
- Age Restrictions:
- Online casino content will be age-restricted and inaccessible to users under 18 or those not logged in.
- Exceptions to age restrictions include content focused on online sports betting and in-person gambling.
- Enforcement:
- Increased risk of channel demonetization, video removal, and other channel penalties for violations.
- YouTube is making a clear distinction between advertisement rules and organic content rules.
YouTube is seriously tightening its grip on gambling content as they’ve seen a surge in casino watchtime among their younger audience. They are implementing a series of new rules aimed at protecting younger kids who have been drawn to gambling, with creators like Togi at the front of their minds.
The core of these changes revolves around a stricter definition of what content is a no-go and what legit casino streamers can make in terms of content.
The most significant overall change is that creators are now explicitly banned from placing links, images, text, or logos that haven’t been pre-approved by YouTube or Google, to hopefully curb the number of people getting scammed by offshore bookies.
This extends far past simple links, though, even just mentioning a blacklisted site could get you in hot water. Moreover, if you talk about any guaranteed wins or returns, you’re going to be on the chopping block, as people have been lying through their teeth to viewers.
If you’re a parent or somebody generally worried about recent gambling trends, you’ll also be quite happy to hear that the consequences for breaking these new rules are severe. Creators who refuse to follow the rules will be quickly demonetized, with their videos being removed before their entire channel gets purged if they continue.
Who Remains Unscathed by the Policy?
Exemptions:
- Creators focusing on in-person gambling or educational content.
- Content related to online sports betting.
- Channels that provide commentary or vlogs on in-person casino experiences.
While YouTube’s new gambling policy certainly casts a wide net, there are plenty of different avenues gambling streamers can go down if they still want to bring in the big bucks. Specifically, the policy is super easy on in-person gambling, content that aims to be more educational instead of oriented around wins, and anything involving sports betting.
The first two exceptions make a ton of sense, as casinos already have to ID anyone who is gambling in person, and educational videos based around in-person games follow suit. However, it could potentially be a miss that they are letting sports betting continue without any rules. It seems FlightReacts will keep the money printer on with his NBA videos and weed business.
For example, channels that document casino vlogs, like a day in the life in Vegas or other gambling destinations, like Lady Luck HQ, will be completely fine under the new rules.
The mainstream acceptance of sports betting seems to be a train with far too much steam, though, legalization and the acceptance by professional leagues have made it a part of everyday life. Everybody knows somebody with a sports betting app on their phone.
Impact on Casino Streamers Promoting Gambling on YouTube
The biggest casualty of these new rules will be the casino streamers and YouTubers that rely heavily on affiliate links and promotions as opposed to traditional monetization. Specifically, online slot and table games streamers who usually place links to their gambling platform for everyone to see could be hit super hard.
When you’re paid for each click, and it’s banned to even showcase your link, you’re really out of luck.
Creators like Roshtein and TrainWrecksTV, who do tons of high-risk casino gambling sessions, will have to change their content strategy, with their primary money source drying up.
The ones with big money could easily switch to more in-person video formats, but without those affiliate links, the payouts will be pennies compared to online gambling.
How to Adapt to YouTube’s New Gambling Rules?
Adapting to YouTube’s tightened restrictions will take a little bit of brainpower, but those with big audiences should be fine as long as they approach it correctly.
- Focus on In-Person Casino Experiences:
- YouTubers will need to shift their content towards documenting visits to physical casinos instead of online ones.
- Create vlogs or documentaries that provide insights into the world of brick-and-mortar gambling, focusing on the entertainment and social aspects instead of just the biggest wins possible.
- Shift to Educational or Entertainment-Based Content:
- Develop content that educates viewers about the rules, strategies, and odds of various casino games without promoting a particular casino. The only issue is that this would make very little money.
- Try to lean into more entertainment-based casino challenges, game reviews, or commentary on gambling-related topics; just avoid direct promotions.
- Streaming or Posting Content on Alternative Platforms:
- Look at Kick.com if you are planning to stream slots or casino games; the rules are relaxed, and oftentimes, you can grab a lucrative deal with Stake.com.
- Place your affiliate links across your social platforms instead of YouTube; You can very easily gamble and then tell people to go look at your Linktree or website; just don’t point out any exact numbers or promotions.
Stricter Rules Ahead?
YouTube’s latest change in policy, combined with Twitch’s new rules on gambling content, could be bad for casino content overall, as it seems like larger institutions are picking up on the harm it’s causing. Moreover, younger viewers are getting addicted to gambling in droves, which could cause lawmakers to turn their eyes on the casino content industry, shutting it out completely.
For now, the media companies are simply adding stricter rules, but who knows what will happen in the future? Should the platforms push for harsher rules, or will the industry just find loopholes to avoid any issues?
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