Balatro has captured the attention of players, but engaging with the game poses no financial stakes—only a commitment of time. The title utilizes standard playing cards and poker hands as part of its foundational mechanics and is devoid of in-app purchases, loot boxes, or any online gameplay that might entice users into gambling beyond basic risk-reward elements.
Despite its benign premise, many content creators on YouTube have found their videos focused on Balatro marked with an “Age-restricted” notice, reportedly due to alleged associations with “depictions or promotions of casino websites or apps.” This has left many creators with limited options for appealing the restrictions.
The Balatro University YouTube channel elaborated on YouTube’s increasing concerns regarding “online gambling” in a video shared last weekend. Under new regulations enacted on March 19, YouTube prohibits any references to gambling platforms or apps that are “not certified by Google.” Additionally, any content that includes “online gambling”—except for online sports betting and depictions of in-person gambling—is inaccessible to those logged out of YouTube or users under 18 years old.
As highlighted by Balatro University’s host, “the problem is,” Balatro isn’t a gambling game. The channel reported that 119 out of its 606 videos received age restrictions, some having been online for over a year. After receiving often vague notifications from YouTube, the host lodged 30 appeals, with 24 being outright denied. Recent communications from YouTube to Balatro University suggested limitations were imposed due to claims of displaying “harmful or dangerous activities that risk serious physical harm,” seemingly based on outdated or mislinked guidelines.
In a show of frustration, developer LocalThunk took to the social platform Bluesky, stating, “Good thing we are protecting children from knowing what a 4 of a kind is and letting them watch CS case opening videos instead,” alluding to the popularity of videos showcasing Counter-Strike “cases” being opened for weapon skins.
Apparently Balatro videos are being rated 18+ on YouTube now for gambling
Good thing we are protecting children from knowing what a 4 of a kind is and letting them watch CS case opening videos instead
— localthunk (@localthunk.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Gambling is everywhere, enforcement is spotty
The perception of Balatro as reminiscent of gambling, despite lacking any actual gambling mechanics, has previously impacted the game. Following its release in early 2024, Balatro faced temporary removals from some platforms or was assigned an “18+” rating by various gaming regulators, including the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI). After most ratings were reassessed, LocalThunk took the unusual step of formally stating in his will that Balatro could never be appropriated for any gambling-related use.
The relationship between modern gaming and gambling is increasingly complex. Apps for gambling and sports betting have become prevalent in advertising, coinciding with the gaming industry’s previous attempts to navigate through contentious issues, such as loot boxes and chance-based mechanics. The surge in popularity of streamers, particularly those showcasing gambling and offering dubious advice on betting strategies, has led platforms like YouTube and Twitch to impose strict bans or restrictions on gambling content.
However, as Balatro University pointed out, the challenges extending from a large entity like Google and YouTube manifest not only in a simplistic view that conflates playing cards with gambling. They also highlight the scant avenues for creators attempting to clarify this distinction. With limited opportunities for appeal, most submissions from Balatro University were swiftly dismissed by YouTube, citing only the videos’ supposed promotion of gambling. Meanwhile, over 400 other videos from Balatro University remain without age restrictions on YouTube, despite many featuring the same gaming content.
Videos that are marked as age-restricted on YouTube face significant barriers to appearing in general recommendation algorithms, dramatically diminishing their viewership, particularly from casual browsers and teenagers eager to explore more about Balatro.
Ars Technica has reached out to Google for a response and will provide updates if a reply is received.
