YouTube bans gambling advertisements

What’s more insane is that YouTube doesn’t give any clear direction on what you can and cannot say in your video. Just guess! This complicated system has already infuriated users. But today, we have yet another reason to give YouTube a side-eye.

As of early June 2021, advertisements related to gambling will be prohibited, and of course, banned from advertising. No more AdSense for users or companies promoting the industry. Let’s not even mention that advertising politics and alcohol also won’t be allowed.

“We believe this update will build on changes we made last year to the masthead reservation process and will lead to a better experience for users,” stated a Google representative, as if it will make the users happy once again.

Any assets that depict or reference gambling-related content, including offline gambling, online gambling, online non-casino games, and social casino games, are now exiled from the land of YouTube, cutting off a massive industry. Yes, sports betting included. This is unfortunate news considering that it will cut off many sponsors and force channels to find an alternative route to advertising.

What does this mean for the gambling industry?

As ridiculous as this new change may be, large gambling companies won’t be phased. Although YouTube happens to be one of the most prominent advertisement channels, casino companies (online and offline) will thrive regardless, as their advertisements are aimed at players who generally find information on review sites, TV, and individual casino websites.

This may, very well, affect smaller businesses related to gambling. And, of course, users who profit from advertising casino entertainment on their channel. Thankfully, everyone’s already prepared for wild changes YouTube has under its sleeve.

How will this affect or benefit YouTube? It won’t. The company has massive crowds offering up all sorts of advertisements other than gambling, alcohol, and politics. This particular action seems to be nothing short of a muzzle practice, limiting more and more topics until they are satisfied with the content viewed by millions across the world.

This mass censorship movement can be seen on many other platforms, Twitter being one of them. So technically, YouTube isn’t doing anything new. It’s simply subduing what they don’t want to be seen or said in public. And although it seems as if banning gambling advertisements would benefit everyone on this green earth, this is just a sliver of a much more significant concept that must be pushed against in any and every way possible.

Free speech and independent advertisement choice are slowly slipping through our fingers, and we’re only at level one. It’s important to remember that Google and YouTube are fused, and there is a lot more coming. You can fight against this infringement on basic rights by signing petitions, practicing sound journalism, and looking for alternative platforms that don’t abide by these concepts and morals. Or lack thereof, to be exact.