From October 21, 2026, Google will allow online gambling ads in the Masthead format, the ad block at the top of the YouTube homepage. The change applies to advertisers certified under Google's Gambling and games policy. The company announced it on October 7.
Sports betting ads were already allowed on the Masthead. Other types of online gambling permitted by Google's policy will now be added, including online casinos in countries where Google allows them.
Who will be able to advertise on the Masthead:
- Gambling operators. They need Google certification and a license in every region where the ads run.
- Affiliates and aggregators. These are sites that provide information about other companies' gambling services or compare them. Google lets them on the Masthead only if the law requires them to register with a state or national authority. For example, under Google's rules, aggregators in Romania must hold a Class 2 license from the ONJN regulator.
How to get certified
Google issues the certification. Advertisers apply through the online gambling application form, with a separate application for each target country. Google requires:
- from operators: a valid license for every region the ads target, with documents proving it;
- from affiliates and aggregators that do not need a license of their own: links only to licensed operators in the relevant region;
- from the advertiser's site (for everyone): an age warning, information on help for gambling addiction, terms and conditions, and a footer with the licensee's name and license number.
If the information in the application changes materially, the advertiser must get certified again. Otherwise the account may be suspended.
What stays in force
Ads must comply with the Gambling and games policy, local laws and age restrictions. Gambling ads can still run only in countries where Google allows them. The landing page must carry responsible gambling information, and targeting minors is prohibited. If a campaign targets both allowed and disallowed countries, it will not run in the disallowed ones.
Note. As of October 11, 2026, Google's general Gambling and games policy page still lists the Masthead among the formats that cannot promote gambling.
