YouTube will step up enforcement of its Community Guidelines from next November 17, tightening policies on gambling-related content and certain graphic gaming videos. The platform says the update aligns rules with industry standards and reflects new trends such as gambling with digital goods. This type of material will be restricted to those over 18 years old.
Under the changes, content directing viewers to uncertified online gambling sites or apps will remain prohibited, and enforcement will expand to gambling involving items with monetary value, including digital goods like video-game skins, cosmetics and NFTs.
Content that depicts, promotes or facilitates social-casino sites, where no real-money wagering occurs, will be age-restricted rather than allowed for general audiences.
The company emphasised that these changes are meant to reduce minors’ exposure to material that imitates gambling behaviour, a concern that has grown as gaming and real-money gambling continue to coalesce.
YouTube will also age-restrict a narrow set of gaming videos featuring realistic human characters that focus on torture or mass violence against non-combatants. Review will consider the duration of graphic scenes (including cumulative time in compilations), the prominence of violent imagery, and whether the characters appear human.
Videos uploaded before 17 November that violate these rules may be removed or age-restricted without a strike. Creators can adjust descriptions or use the built-in editor to trim or blur content ahead of the deadline.
YouTube says most channels should see little to no impact, and that affected creators will be notified by email and can appeal decisions.
Source: GMB
