YouTube Stricter Guidelines for Gaming Videos Featuring Gambling and Graphic Violence

YouTube is tightening its content policies for gaming videos, particularly those involving online gambling and graphic violence, with new guidelines set to take effect on November 17, 2025. The platform’s updated rules aim to align with global content regulations and emerging industry trends, particularly around digital goods and violent gaming content.

In a recent announcement, TeamYouTube revealed that it will be enforcing stricter Community Guidelines around gaming content, particularly focusing on online gambling and realistic violence in games. The move comes as YouTube looks to address rising concerns about gambling-related content involving digital items like skins, cosmetics, and NFTs. The platform also plans to limit exposure to violent content that could be disturbing to younger audiences.

Expanded Rules on Gambling Content

One of the most significant updates will affect gambling-related content in gaming. While creators have long been prohibited from linking to unapproved gambling websites or apps, YouTube’s new policy extends this restriction to include online gambling involving digital assets with real monetary value. This could have a major impact on games like Counter-Strike 2, where in-game items such as skins and other cosmetics are bought and sold with real-world currency.

YouTube has yet to clarify how it will enforce these restrictions within regular gameplay videos, but creators will need to avoid promoting or facilitating gambling involving digital goods.

Age-Restriction on Social Casino Games

In addition to the gambling policy changes, YouTube will also begin age-restricting videos that depict or promote social casino games. These are casino-style experiences that do not involve real money but simulate gambling mechanics. The age-restriction aims to protect younger viewers from being exposed to virtual gambling environments, even when real money isn’t at stake.

New Restrictions on Graphic Violence in Games

Perhaps the most controversial update concerns graphic violence in games that feature realistic human characters. From November 17, YouTube will age-restrict videos that prominently feature:

• Scenes of torture.
• Mass violence against non-combatants.

YouTube’s assessment of such content will consider the duration of the violent scenes, whether the violence is central or incidental to the video, and the realism of the depiction, especially when it involves human-like characters. This policy could affect popular games known for their realistic portrayals of violence, like Grand Theft Auto 6.

Impact on YouTube Creators

YouTube assures that the new policies will have minimal impact on most creators, but encourages all users to review their content in light of the upcoming changes. Older videos that violate the new policies may be age-restricted or removed, but creators will not receive a strike. YouTube will notify affected creators via email and provide the opportunity to appeal.

For creators looking to adapt, YouTube offers editing tools to modify video descriptions or blur violent scenes to meet the new guidelines.

This policy overhaul comes as governments worldwide continue to examine loot boxes and digital gambling mechanics in video games. YouTube’s tighter regulations are part of a broader industry trend to address these issues and reshape how gaming creators approach monetization and content strategy in the future.