YouTube Age-Restricts Balatro Videos Over “Gambling” Concerns, Sparking Backlash From Devs and Creators

YouTube is cracking down on content it deems related to gambling—and that’s causing unexpected trouble for creators covering Balatro, the hit roguelike deck-building game. Despite having zero real-money gambling elements, videos about the game are now getting slapped with 18+ age restrictions.

What’s going on with Balatro content on YouTube?

Back on March 19, YouTube quietly updated its community guidelines to include age restrictions for “depictions or promotions of online casino sites or apps.” That’s where things get tricky—because while Balatro is inspired by poker hands, it’s a completely single-player strategy game with no connection to real-world gambling.

Still, that hasn’t stopped YouTube from flagging dozens—if not hundreds—of videos. One channel, Balatro University, revealed that 119 out of their 606 videos have now been age-restricted. Out of the 30 appeals they submitted to YouTube, 24 were rejected, leaving creators feeling frustrated and in the dark about how the rules are being enforced.

“If YouTube wants to age-restrict gambling content, I think that’s a really positive change, But YouTube really needs to make up its mind: is Balatro content gambling content?”

Even the developer is calling it out

LocalThunk, the solo dev behind Balatro, didn’t hold back on social media. Responding to the restrictions, they said:

“Good thing we are protecting children from knowing what a 4 of a kind is and letting them watch CS case opening videos instead.”

That sarcastic jab is getting a lot of attention—and for good reason. While Balatro videos are getting flagged, YouTube seems far more lenient with Counter-Strike videos featuring loot box openings, which often involve real money and arguably more “gambling-like” mechanics than Balatro ever touches.

This isn’t Balatro’s first rating battle

Earlier this year, PEGI (Europe’s game rating board) originally rated Balatro 18+, citing concerns about gambling imagery. But after a formal appeal from LocalThunk, the game was reclassified as PEGI 12 in February 2025, thanks to its fantasy-based mechanics and lack of real-money gameplay.

PEGI even acknowledged in a statement that while the game includes references to poker hands, its “fantastical elements” make it suitable for younger audiences. So to see YouTube now essentially reversing that decision with age gates has creators scratching their heads.

The age restriction effect: less reach, less revenue

For content creators, age restrictions aren’t just annoying—they can seriously hurt discoverability and monetization. Videos marked 18+ don’t show up as easily in search results, aren’t recommended as often, and are less likely to be monetized at the same level. That’s a big deal for creators relying on these videos for income.

Worse still, the enforcement seems inconsistent. Some Balatro videos get flagged, while others—sometimes from the same channel—don’t. The lack of clarity from YouTube has creators asking for transparency and a reevaluation of how the platform defines “gambling content.”

Balatro keeps thriving despite the roadblocks

Even with the platform drama, Balatro’s success hasn’t slowed down. The game recently passed 5 million copies sold, and made waves at the Game Developers Conference, where LocalThunk reportedly played the game anonymously on the show floor, impressing fans without revealing his identity.

Still, the ongoing content restrictions raise larger questions about how platforms like YouTube label and moderate game-related content—and whether indie devs and smaller creators are paying the price for vague or overly broad policies.