Google Tightens Its Gambling Policy to Match Local Regulations in Multiple Markets

Google has rolled out yet another update to its gambling advertising policy, bringing its rules further in line with regulations enforced in various jurisdictions. Under the newly introduced restrictions, advertisers are now blocked from promoting offline gambling in any region where such activity is deemed illegal.

In its announcement, Google confirmed that 35 countries fall under the updated limitations, explaining that “the promotion of offline gambling is prohibited in locations where it is illegal to advertise offline gambling.” As a result, marketers operating in these territories will be required to adjust their campaigns to ensure full compliance with Google’s ad standards.

The list of affected countries includes: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, The Maldives, Morocco, Northern Ireland, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, The United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and Yemen.

This latest policy shift, which officially went into effect on November 19, marks another step in Google’s effort to curb the spread of gambling-related promotions in places where such ads are not legally permitted. Advertisers are expected to alter their outreach strategies accordingly as the new framework is already being enforced across the platform.

The November revision follows a series of policy adjustments implemented earlier this year. Google previously refined its definition of what constitutes gambling-related content and introduced tougher enforcement measures, noting that repeated violations could lead to significant penalties, including outright bans. Additional updates were aimed at clarifying the rules under the Gambling and Games policy for countries with more nuanced regulatory structures.

Google also moved to address ongoing concerns around sweepstakes products. In that update, the company clarified that these offerings are not classified as social casino games, stating that they fall outside the scope of the social casino games policy and are not eligible for certification. Games offering “real-world rewards,” Google emphasized, must adhere to the specific constraints established under the online gambling policy.

Meanwhile, in a contrasting regulatory approach, Australia has recently relaxed its position on online gambling advertising, even as advocacy groups continue to call for a comprehensive ban on all forms of gambling promotion.

By fLEXI tEAM