How YouTube and Twitch regulate gambling content for minors
Introduction
Despite the active distribution of streams and videos about poker, betting and "crash games," YouTube and Twitch platforms are obliged to protect underage viewers. In Australia, the minimum age for online gambling is set at 18. To comply with local legislation and their own rules, both platforms have introduced a set of technical restrictions and moderation policies.
1. Legal basis in Australia
1. Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA)
Prohibits online gambling operators from allowing anyone under the age of 18 to participate.
Extends restrictions to all digital advertising and promotion of gambling services.
2. Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA)
Regulates television and radio content, including streams, classified by age ratings.
3. State and Territory Regulations
In some states (for example, Victoria, New South Wales) there are additional penalties for violation of the age limit.
The YouTube and Twitch platforms, without being operators of gambling directly, still fall under the requirements for the inadmissibility of attracting minors to gambling content through advertising and broadcasts.
2. YouTube politics
1. General provisions
A ban on monetizing videos showing real gambling without a clear age filter.
Requirement to label content as "Age-restriction."
2. Technical mechanisms
Age-Gate: the viewer must confirm the age (enter the date of birth, link the account to the payment card).
Content ID and automatic scan: algorithms identify the keywords "poker," "bets" and prohibit the display of contextual advertising in videos without an age limit.
3. Moderation and complaints
Viewers and third parties can complain through the "Report age-restricted content" form.
When a complaint is received, videos receive an automatic ban before being considered by moderators.
4. Penalties
Demonetization of the video: if the content violates the requirements, the author loses advertising income.
Blocking in Australia: in case of systematic violations, the video is not available to the audience in Australia.
3. Twitch politics
1. General provisions
The "Gambling" category is highlighted in a separate section; streamers are required to indicate it when starting the broadcast.
The very definition of "gambling content" includes sports betting, poker, "crash games" and platform reviews.
2. Age-Gating and Verification
To access the channel with the "Gambling" category, the user must have a Twitch account and once confirm that he is ≥18 years old.
No further checks (such as map linking) are usually required, but Twitch supports requests for additional verification when disputes arise.
3. Moderation and automation
AutoMod: Filters chat messages related to gambling ads and blocks links to unlicensed sites.
Community reports: users can report illegal content or dubious broadcasts; moderators are investigating.
4. Partner Programs and Sanctions
Affiliate/Partner: Streamers who receive these statuses are required to take into account local laws: content that does not comply with the IGA leads to the loss of partnership.
Deleting the broadcast: Twitch blocks VOD for repeated violations and makes it impossible to stream "Gambling" categories.
4. Comparative analysis of approaches
5. Recommendations to streamers and human rights organizations
1. To streamers
Always include age-restriction/" Gambling "category.
Clearly voice the age requirements in the description and in the introduction of the stream.
Avoid displaying bid interfaces without explicit age warning.
2. To human rights activists
Monitor complaints of minors and promptly contact the sites.
Conduct audits of popular channels for bypassing age-gate through third-party broadcasts.
Support educational campaigns on the risks of early involvement in gambling.
Conclusion
YouTube and Twitch are implementing a range of measures - from technical age-gate filters to manual moderation - to prevent under-18s from accessing gambling content in Australia. The policies of both platforms are consistent with the requirements of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and regional regulations, which protects minors and reduces the risks of illegal gambling promotion. It is important for streamers to strictly observe the rules of labeling and verification, and for human rights defenders to actively use complaint mechanisms and educate the audience.
Despite the active distribution of streams and videos about poker, betting and "crash games," YouTube and Twitch platforms are obliged to protect underage viewers. In Australia, the minimum age for online gambling is set at 18. To comply with local legislation and their own rules, both platforms have introduced a set of technical restrictions and moderation policies.
1. Legal basis in Australia
1. Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA)
Prohibits online gambling operators from allowing anyone under the age of 18 to participate.
Extends restrictions to all digital advertising and promotion of gambling services.
2. Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA)
Regulates television and radio content, including streams, classified by age ratings.
3. State and Territory Regulations
In some states (for example, Victoria, New South Wales) there are additional penalties for violation of the age limit.
The YouTube and Twitch platforms, without being operators of gambling directly, still fall under the requirements for the inadmissibility of attracting minors to gambling content through advertising and broadcasts.
2. YouTube politics
1. General provisions
A ban on monetizing videos showing real gambling without a clear age filter.
Requirement to label content as "Age-restriction."
2. Technical mechanisms
Age-Gate: the viewer must confirm the age (enter the date of birth, link the account to the payment card).
Content ID and automatic scan: algorithms identify the keywords "poker," "bets" and prohibit the display of contextual advertising in videos without an age limit.
3. Moderation and complaints
Viewers and third parties can complain through the "Report age-restricted content" form.
When a complaint is received, videos receive an automatic ban before being considered by moderators.
4. Penalties
Demonetization of the video: if the content violates the requirements, the author loses advertising income.
Blocking in Australia: in case of systematic violations, the video is not available to the audience in Australia.
3. Twitch politics
1. General provisions
The "Gambling" category is highlighted in a separate section; streamers are required to indicate it when starting the broadcast.
The very definition of "gambling content" includes sports betting, poker, "crash games" and platform reviews.
2. Age-Gating and Verification
To access the channel with the "Gambling" category, the user must have a Twitch account and once confirm that he is ≥18 years old.
No further checks (such as map linking) are usually required, but Twitch supports requests for additional verification when disputes arise.
3. Moderation and automation
AutoMod: Filters chat messages related to gambling ads and blocks links to unlicensed sites.
Community reports: users can report illegal content or dubious broadcasts; moderators are investigating.
4. Partner Programs and Sanctions
Affiliate/Partner: Streamers who receive these statuses are required to take into account local laws: content that does not comply with the IGA leads to the loss of partnership.
Deleting the broadcast: Twitch blocks VOD for repeated violations and makes it impossible to stream "Gambling" categories.
4. Comparative analysis of approaches
| Mechanism | YouTube | Twitch |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory labeling | Age-restriction at the video level | Mandatory categorization "Gambling" |
| Age-Gate | Date of birth verification, card linking | Age confirmation in account |
| AutoScan | Content ID, keywords | AutoMod, link filtering |
| Complaint Moderation | Complaint Form, Moderator Review | Community Communications, Operational Locks |
| Sanctions | Demonetization, Regional Lockdown | VOD Removal, Defunding Affiliate/Partner |
5. Recommendations to streamers and human rights organizations
1. To streamers
Always include age-restriction/" Gambling "category.
Clearly voice the age requirements in the description and in the introduction of the stream.
Avoid displaying bid interfaces without explicit age warning.
2. To human rights activists
Monitor complaints of minors and promptly contact the sites.
Conduct audits of popular channels for bypassing age-gate through third-party broadcasts.
Support educational campaigns on the risks of early involvement in gambling.
Conclusion
YouTube and Twitch are implementing a range of measures - from technical age-gate filters to manual moderation - to prevent under-18s from accessing gambling content in Australia. The policies of both platforms are consistent with the requirements of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and regional regulations, which protects minors and reduces the risks of illegal gambling promotion. It is important for streamers to strictly observe the rules of labeling and verification, and for human rights defenders to actively use complaint mechanisms and educate the audience.
