As Google updates its ads policy, it finally lifts the ban and allows social casino game app campaigns to run on its platform.
This is due to the company removing social casinos from its restricted ‘Gambling,’ sensitive interest category, so adverts for social casinos will now be able to appear on web pages.
The ads will be allowed to run from December 4, with advertisers able to gain the ability to personalize online social casino game app ads by the end of March 2025.
This announcement came through an update on Google Support, with the November 2024 change now visible within the ads policy.
“Specifically, the Gambling in personalized ads sensitive interest category will be updated to explicitly exclude social casino game App campaigns. As a reminder, if a type of gambling ad is included in the gambling sensitive interest category, we do not allow personalization.”
The company hasn’t provided a reason behind the change and why it’s removing social casino from its exclusion list.
In its policy, the technology giant states the reason behind banning certain kinds of gambling-related advertising is because it supports “responsible gambling advertising and abide by local gambling laws and industry standards.”
The examples of restricted gambling-related content include physical casinos, national or private lotteries, non-casino-based cash game sites, and several more.
The category of ‘social casinos’ is expected to include all forms like slot, poker, and roulette.
“The gambling sensitive interest category will be updated to prohibit personalization for: ‘Gambling, including online and offline gambling; online gambling-related information; online non-casino games played for money or prizes; and online casino-based games, regardless of whether money is exchanged, unless you are using Google App campaigns to promote a social casino gaming app to app users.’”
While the ban is being lifted, Google does state that violations of the personalized ads policy will lead to a warning being issued. This could then lead to the suspension of the account.
