YouTube to tighten rules on gambling, violent gaming content from November 17: 5 things creators need to know
YouTube is rolling out stricter rules for online gambling and violent gaming content from November 17, 2025. The platform will now restrict videos showing gambling with digital goods like NFTs and apply age limits to violent or casino-style content. Here’s what creators need to know.
YouTube is updating its rules on gambling and violent content Starting November 17, 2025, YouTube will begin enforcing stricter rules on videos that involve online gambling and graphic violence in gaming. The platform said these updates are part of its effort to “evolve with the digital world” and to align with industry standards for mature content. Essentially, YouTube wants to make sure the platform remains safe and responsible while keeping up with new trends like gambling through digital goods and NFTs.
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Gambling with digital items like skins and NFTs will now be restricted Until now, YouTube only banned videos that linked viewers to gambling sites not certified by Google. But from November 17, that restriction will expand to include gambling with digital items — such as video game skins, cosmetics, or NFTs — if these items hold real-world value. This means creators who promote or show gambling with in-game assets could face video removal or age restrictions.
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Casino-style content will be age-restricted even if no money is involved YouTube will also start age-restricting videos that feature social casino-style games, even when no real money is wagered. This includes online slots, roulette, or similar games played for entertainment. The platform said these videos will still be allowed but will only be viewable by audiences aged 18 and above, to ensure minors aren’t exposed to gambling-like content.
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More restrictions for violent gaming scenes involving humans YouTube is also tightening its rules for graphic gaming content. Videos featuring realistic violence against human characters, such as torture or mass violence against non-combatants, may now be age-restricted. The platform will consider factors like how long the violent scene lasts, how prominently it’s shown, and whether it involves human-like characters. This means creators of games with realistic combat scenes — like horror or war titles — may need to trim or blur certain parts to stay compliant.
Existing videos won’t get strikes but may face removal or age limits For now, YouTube says most creators won’t be affected. However, videos uploaded before the November 17 deadline that break the new rules could be removed or age-restricted. The good news: these won’t lead to strikes on a channel. YouTube suggests creators use its editing and blur tools to make any fixes before the changes take effect. If a creator disagrees with an age restriction, they can still appeal the decision.
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