YouTube’s recently implemented age restriction policy is significantly affecting poker content creators’ ability to reach their audience, according to Poker News. Since March, Google has introduced new rules for gambling content on YouTube, automatically restricting poker videos to viewers aged 18 and over. This policy change requires users to be logged into their accounts to access poker content, resulting in viewership declines.

Kevin Martin, a veteran poker content creator with over 130,000 subscribers who has been creating poker videos for ten years, reported that his videos which previously garnered over 75,000 views have seen dramatic decreases in engagement after being age-restricted.

Creators Argue for Differentiated Treatment

Content creators argue that poker, as a skill-based game, should be treated differently from chance-based gambling content such as online slots, per the Poker News report. 

According to Martin, his audience is “99.8% adults,” suggesting that the broad application of age restrictions to poker content may be unnecessarily limiting exposure without addressing the intended goal of protecting minors.

“Minors watching my content is not a problem,” Martin wrote in an X post. “Meanwhile, degenerate content like live slots, live blackjack, etc. have no restrictions.”

Several creators noted in PokerListings that while they support YouTube’s efforts to protect younger users from gambling content, the blanket application of the same rules to poker exceeds the original intentions of the policy.

The age restriction policy has broader implications beyond requiring users to be logged in. Martin explained that when videos are age-restricted, “The YouTube algorithm then stops recommending your video even if it was crushing,” effectively reducing the content’s visibility and potential for growth.

Despite the challenges, Martin stated he plans to continue creating content on YouTube. Other content creators, including chess champion Alexandra Botez, who also creates poker content, have reported similar experiences with their videos being “age gated.”

This change occurs within YouTube’s larger framework of youth protection initiatives. In June, the platform increased the minimum age for solo live streaming from 13 to 16, requiring adult supervision for younger creators. YouTube has also implemented algorithm adjustments limiting teenagers’ exposure to potentially harmful content about weight and physical appearance.