'Balatro' now gets age-restricted on YouTube, and developers are fed up
The poker-themed game '
YouTube has started age restricting Balatro videos for alleged gambling-related content, and creator LocalThunk is clearly getting sick of this sort of thing | PC Gamer
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/youtube-has-started-age-restricting-balatro-videos-for-alleged-gambling-related-content-and-creator-localthunk-is-clearly-getting-sick-of-this-sort-of-thing/
YouTube's policy , revised on March 19, 2025, now restricts content that directs users to online gambling sites or promotes or depicts online gambling. Age-restricted videos will not be viewable by users under the age of 18 or logged out users.
YouTube announces that users should not mention gambling sites that are not approved by Google - GIGAZINE
Balatro was included in this target, and YouTube channels that focus on Balatro were affected. One of the affected channels, 'Balatro University,' which introduces many Balatro walkthrough videos, explains the matter.
According to Balatro University, on April 3, 2025, they received an email stating, 'Some of your videos will be age-restricted. Please read the rules and appeal if you think there is a mistake.' When Balatro University appealed some videos, they received an email back stating, 'Your content shows harmful or dangerous activities that may cause physical harm,' and the appeal was rejected.
This resulted in 119 of Balatro University's 606 videos being age-restricted. Balatro University filed 30 appeals, but only six were successful.
Although Balatro is indeed about poker, it is a completely offline single-player game, meaning you can't bet real money or exchange items with other people.
Balatro University said, 'YouTube can set an age limit for gambling, but we think that it should be judged correctly whether the video is gambling, promotes gambling, or is Balatro,' criticizing the inconsistent application of the rules. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of direct human interaction and the opportunity to provide details in appeals.
Balatro developer LocalThunk also commented on the Balatro University incident, angered by the continued misidentification of his game, criticizing , 'Why don't they show kids CS case opening videos instead? Good thing.' CS case opening videos are videos of people opening loot boxes from the Counter-Strike game series. These loot boxes can be easily obtained by spending real money, and are a form of gambling, but there are no age restrictions on the related videos.
Opening 25 of EVERY CS2 CASE | TDM_Heyzeus - YouTube
Balatro is also rated PEGI 18 in the EU, and LocalThunk said, 'I'm more upset that games that actually incorporate gambling (loot boxes) are rated 3+ than that Balatro is rated 18+. I'd be happy to accept the ridiculous 18+ rating if other games are properly rated.' In addition, Balatro's publisher filed an appeal against this matter, and Balatro was revised to PEGI 12.
Developer of 'Balatro', which was rated in the EU as '18+ only' due to gambling elements, makes angry comments - GIGAZINE
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