These new rules, effective November 17, 2025, are part of YouTube’s effort to align its standards with global regulations and evolving digital trends.

According to an official statement from TeamYouTube, the platform is tightening enforcement of its Community Guidelines concerning gambling and violent gaming content.

While YouTube already bans creators from linking to unapproved gambling platforms, the new policy will also cover gambling involving digital items with real-world value, including video game skins, NFTs, and in-game cosmetics.

This move could impact games like Counter-Strike 2, where virtual item trading is common. However, YouTube has not yet clarified how strictly the rules will apply to regular gameplay videos.

The platform will also begin age-restricting content related to social casino games,  casino-style experiences that don’t use real money. This step is designed to limit minors’ exposure to simulated gambling environments, even when no actual currency is involved.

Another major shift targets graphic violence in games featuring human-like characters. Videos showing torture scenes, mass violence against civilians, or other intense depictions will now be age-restricted. YouTube will assess such content based on duration, prominence, and realism of the violence portrayed — a change likely to affect titles like Grand Theft Auto 6.

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YouTube said that most creators will experience minimal disruption, but urged them to review content before November 17. Older videos breaching the new policies may be removed or age-restricted without a strike. Creators can adjust their videos using YouTube’s trim or blur tools, and appeals will remain available.

These changes come amid increasing global scrutiny of loot boxes and digital gambling in video games. With YouTube generating $9.79 billion in Q2 2025, the policy update marks a significant shift that will influence how gaming creators handle content, monetization, and audience strategy going forward.