Google revises rules on offline gambling promotions
Marketing teams for casino groups and gambling operators will face tighter constraints after Google expanded its offline gambling advertising prohibitions to 35 countries on November 19, 2025, and clarified which physical gambling activities fall under the restricted category.
Google’s policy documentation states that offline gambling refers to “legal physical, real-world gambling activity or establishments.” The company lists brick-and-mortar casinos, gaming parlors such as pachinko parlors, and streaming of offline poker tournaments as examples. These activities are treated separately from online gambling operations and social casino games, which continue to follow different certification requirements under Google’s advertising rules.
Regional prohibitions and policy changes
The updated policy states: “Promotion of offline gambling is prohibited in locations where it is illegal to advertise offline gambling.” The list of jurisdictions provided in the documentation now contains 35 territories.
Countries included in the restricted list are Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen.
The revision introduced additional territories where offline gambling advertising is not permitted. These include Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Northern Ireland, the Philippines, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Google stated that the changes are effective immediately.
Advertising categories permitted under the policy
The policy presents a separate section identifying activities permitted in markets where offline gambling promotion is legal. It states: “Promotion of legal physical, real-world gambling activity or establishments,” which includes the same examples noted under the offline gambling definition.
The updated guidance provides region-specific limitations that determine where marketing related to physical gambling establishments may appear on Google’s platforms. The clarification addresses advertising for activities taking place in real-world gambling venues and identifies territories where such promotions cannot legally run.
https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/11/20/116410-google-revises-rules-on-offline-gambling-promotions