Google’s updated Gambling and Games policy took effect on March 23, raising the bar for gambling advertisers. The big shift is “good policy health,” tighter domain rules, and direct risk for MCCs managing shaky gambling accounts
Google has now flipped the switch on its updated Gambling and Games certification rules. From March 23, any account that wants to advertise gambling or gaming offers must show “good policy health,” not just the right paperwork and GEO eligibility. Google is also reiterating that certification is not available for sites on free hosting, third-party root subdomains, unrelated domains, or second-level domains not owned and operated by the advertiser.
For gambling media buyers, the practical read is simple: old account-farm logic gets weaker here. If you run search or branded acquisition in regulated geos, account history now matters much more. And if you manage traffic through MCC structures, the pain can spread upward fast, because Google says manager accounts with a significant volume of revoked gambling certificates or policy-breaching managed accounts can lose the ability to apply for new certificates, while existing certifications can also be revoked.
In AffiliateValley terms, this is one of those quiet updates that can wreck campaigns before buyers even touch creatives. Search gambling traffic is still alive, but the compliance tax is now higher. Bad account hygiene, weak domains, and lazy structure are no longer just “risky.” They can shut the door completely.
