YouTube has recently enforced age restrictions on videos related to Balatro, a card game, due to allegations of gambling content. Creator LocalThunk is visibly upset with this decision, expressing his exasperation through a post on Bluesky. He remarked, “Good thing we are protecting children from knowing what a four of a kind is while allowing them to view CS case opening videos instead.”
Translation: It’s ironic how children are shielded from learning about basic card games but exposed to more questionable content online.

The YouTube policy has been updated to include age restrictions on videos depicting or promoting online gambling sites. Despite this change aiming to protect young audiences, it has caused confusion for several creators within the gaming community, especially Balatro channels that merely discuss the game without promoting actual gambling.

YouTube’s recent actions have drawn criticism as creators face severe limitations on their content reach due to the automated nature of the age-review system. For example, Balatro-focused channels like Balatro University have only seen a sixth of their videos restricted while others remain untouched, sparking concerns over inconsistent enforcement.

LocalThunk indicates that Balatro is not an online gambling site, insisting that it is comparable to other card-based games in the genre, and suggested that the automatic moderation algorithms are mistaking it for gambling content simply due to its use of traditional card designs.

With an age restriction in place, Balatro’s visibility on the platform is further diminished, showcasing a significant challenge faced by creators in navigating YouTube’s evolving guidelines.