Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Ads Policy Update: Sweepstake Casinos Excluded from Social Casino Games
Google Ads updated its Gambling and Games policy on October 28, 2025, clarifying that sweepstake casinos are not classified as social casino games. This change prohibits sweepstake casinos from advertising on Google Ads under the social casino category. The update impacts how games offering real-world rewards are regulated. No other policy changes were made during this update.
Optimixed’s Overview: Key Insights into Google’s Revised Policy on Sweepstake Casinos and Advertising Restrictions
What the Update Means for Advertisers
On October 28, 2025, Google refined its Gambling and Games policy by explicitly excluding sweepstake casinos from the definition of social casino games. This update has significant implications for marketers and developers relying on Google Ads to promote sweepstake casino games.
Details of the Policy Change
- New Policy Line: The policy now states, “Examples of games that are not social casino games: Sweepstake casinos.”
- Advertising Restrictions: Sweepstake casinos can no longer use Google Ads for promotion under the social casino certification.
- Classification: Sweepstake casinos are considered games offering real-world rewards and therefore fall under the stricter online gambling regulations.
- No Other Changes: Aside from this clarification, no other modifications were made to the Gambling and Games policy.
Implications for the Gaming Industry
This update highlights Google’s intent to strictly regulate the advertising of games involving real-world rewards to ensure compliance with gambling laws and policies. Companies involved in sweepstake casino games will need to explore alternative marketing channels or adjust their game classification to align with Google’s advertising policies.
