What to know about new gaming, gambling restrictions on YouTube
YouTube will soon roll out new restrictions that will change how gambling and some forms of gaming content can be uploaded and accessed on the popular video platform.
YouTube’s stance on gambling and gaming content has been clear enough to date for most creators to understand, but Google’s new enforcement rules will make for its the biggest changes to that stance in some time. The streaming of gambling and casino games already hasn’t been easy on YouTube, and creators will now need to change their content even more with new restrictions that will shorty be enforced. Violent video game content will also face new restrictions, and creators will need to adapt accordingly.
What changes is YouTube making to gaming and gambling content?
The main changes YouTube is poised to make are in restricting what can be shown in gambling video content on the platform, as well as narrowing access to content featuring video game violence.
YouTube made a community announcement to share with creators that the platform’s guidelines are changing, with the new rules set to come into full effect on November 17. The streaming giant stated that the changes are being made while keeping in mind the evolving digital landscape and to ensure that the platform’s guidelines meet “mature content with industry standards.”
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Online gambling is already restricted on YouTube, which has never been the best platform for casino streaming. Creators have been prohibited from making content using online opeartors that aren’t certified by YouTube owner Google. This restriction is soon to be expanded and will now cover both the previously-managed forms of online gambling and those that involve alternative digital goods.
Examples of these digital goods would specifically include skins used in CS2 betting, as well as other forms of in-game cosmetics that can be traded between players and thus utilized for betting. NFTs will also be included in the new rule.
YouTube will also age-restrict casino content that uses real money or promotes casino platforms online. Age-related restrictions will also be delivered to video game content considered graphic in nature. This consideration will include a weighing of the duration of the scene, the prominence of the featured violence, and how realistic it is. Certain types of particularly violent content will more heavily restricted than others.
These changes follow on the heels of Google’s decision to remove Sweepstakes from the social gaming category when it comes to advertising, as the tech giant further modifies how it navigates an evolving digital world.
Google states that it expects these changes to be made seamlessly, with most channels not being significantly affected. There is enough time left before the changes go into effect for channels with affected content to make changes so that they meet the new regulations. YouTube won’t penalize channels if older content doesn’t meet the new rules. Violating videos will be removed or age-restricted, but no strikes will be issued to the channel for content uploaded prior to this decision being made.
YouTube has not been the best platform for casino streaming and similar gambling content, and these new rules further make that clear while more welcoming alternatives, such as Kick, continue to grow in prominence.
YouTube is encouraging creators to modify content by trimming their videos or by using blurring tools. It’s also recommended that video descriptions be edited if they could run afoul of the new rules. These changes should be made before November 17 to ensure videos meet the new guidelines and aren’t removed or age-restricted.
Feature image credit: YouTube
Khizar Mundia has been playing video games for as long as he can recall. Things have come a long way since the many days he spent playing the original NES, though. He now covers a variety of competitive games and esports, as well as the world of streaming, ranging from Twitch to Kick. If it’s of interest to gamers, it’s of interest to Khizar.
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