Why casino ads are banned - and how to get around the restrictions

💡 Important: I do not help to bypass prohibitions and "hack" moderation. But I can show in detail how to work within the framework of the law and the rules of the sites - this is the only sustainable way for the brand and affiliates.

1) Why gambling ads are banned in the first place

Three key reasons:

1. Protection of vulnerable groups - minors, people with addictions.

2. Honesty and transparency - the prohibition of false promises of "easy money," hidden conditions of bonuses.

3. Financial security - AML/KYC, anti-fraud and anti-money laundering.

Bottom line: states introduce licensing and age filters, and platforms (Meta, Google, TikTok, DSP) supplement this with their own GEO permissions and whitelists.

2) The levels of restrictions you will face

Law and regulator: permitted/prohibited markets, age 18 +/21 +, requirements for an operator's license.

Platform rules: whitelisting for real-money gambling, prohibition of "profitable promises," strict requirements for creatives.

Payment infrastructure: banking/processing, KYC/AML and limits.

Brand and affiliates: contractual rules, quality braces, anti-fraud.

3) What is usually allowed (white work frame)

Only licensed brands/offers and GEO permitted.

Age target 18 +/21 + and exclusion of minors.

Whitelisting on the platform (confirmed business, verified domain, vertical tolerance request).

Full-term landing: license, RG block, transparent bonus terms (including wagering).

Creatives without "easy money," packs of cash and clickbait.

Tracking without cloaking: Conversion API/server-side, but without content spoofing.

4) How to prepare for a legitimate launch (step by step)

1. Legal package: license, details of a legal entity, RG policy, age threshold for target markets.

2. Infrastructure: confirmed by Business Manager/Ads Account, Domain Verification, 2FA, role delimitation.

3. Whitelisting on platforms for real money play (country/product specific).

4. Landing: visible bonus conditions, links to the regulator, privacy/consent, OK download speed.

5. Creative Guide:

You can: gameplay, tournament, service, support 24/7, "play responsibly, 18 +/21 +."
It is impossible: "guaranteed winnings," "easy money," comparisons "before/after," minors, alcohol/erotica.
6. Tracking: GA4 + server-side deposit event, S2S postbacks (reg/KYC/FTD/2nd_dep/refund/chargeback), no cloaking.
7. Antifraud: IP/ASN scoring, velocity rules, black/white source lists; appeals procedure.

5) Creatives and copyright: how not to get banned

Tone: entertaining, factual.

Required disclaimer: "18 +/21 +. Play responsibly. Conditions apply."

Bonuses: an explicit reference to the rules (wagering, limits, deadlines).

Visual: UI/abstract scenes, no cash, no before/after.

Localization: language/currency/age under GEO.

6) Promotion channels that are usually compatible

Platforms with admission: Meta/Google/large DSPs - strictly whitelisting.

SEO/content marketing: educational materials, reviews with RG blocks.

Partner networks: only with transparent S2S accounting and quality rules (2nd-dep, chargeback).

Media sponsorship/inventory in authorized jurisdictions - with status "18 +" and RG.

(In each case, check local law and site conditions.)

7) Performance measurement - no grey schemes

Metrics: CR (click→reg), CR (reg→KYC), CR (KYC→FTD), 2nd-dep rate, ARPU_D7/D30, Payback, ROAS/ROI, complaints/deviations.

Tracking: server-side + Conversion API, idempotency by 'event _ id', UTC time and report currency.

Attribution: DDA vs Last-click; financial solutions - by NGR cohorts, not by GGR.

8) Risks and sanctions (to understand the rate)

Block/deactivate accounts, domains, applications.

Fines, claims of the regulator, loss of license and payment channels.

Reputational costs, an increase in the cost of traffic due to the reduced quality of accounts.

Conclusion: "bypasses" are short-term and expensive. The legal model is the only way to scalability.

9) Frequent errors

1. Mixing allowed and prohibited GEOs in one set of ads.

2. No explicit bonus conditions on the initial screen.

3. Aggressive promises and "money icons" in creatives.

4. Cloaking and content substitution after moderation.

5. No Conversion API/server-side events - leaky attribution and suspicion of platforms.

10) Checklists

10. 1. Before launch

License/legal pages and RG blocks ready
Business/Domain Verification, whitelisting GEO/Vertical
Landing: bonus terms, speed, consent
Creatives: no "easy money," 18 +/RG, localization
GA4 + S2S, Conversion API, idempotency
Anti-fraud rules, white/black source lists

10. 2. In progress

Monitoring deviations/complaints and quick edits
Cohort reports: Cum_ARPU D7/D30, 2nd-dep, Payback
Postback delay alerts> 15 minutes, "operator↔DWH" discrepancies

11) 30-60-90 plan

0-30 days - Tolerances and basic hygiene

Assemble a legal package, verify the business/domain, request whitelisting for white GEO.

Bring landing and creatives to compliance guide (18 +/RG, bonus terms).

Enable GA4 + Conversion API + S2S for reg/KYC/FTD.

31-60 days - Stabilization and proof

Launch campaigns in authorized markets, isolate GEO/formats.

Build NGR/Payback cohort showcases; document the approval rate and the reasons for the deviations.

Update anti-fraud and source lists.

61-90 days - Scale and operational robustness

Expand formats/creative pools, but keep compliance scans.

Standardize playbooks: launch/appeals/creative review/incident elevator.

Quarterly audit: RG procedures, UTM dictionaries, tracking/currencies/TZ.

12) Mini-FAQ

Can I show "expected winnings"?

No, it isn't. Only factual messages, no promises of income.

Do platforms need whitelisting?

Yes, for real-money gambling - without admission, launches will lead to bans.

Is it possible to "mask" the vertical?

No, it isn't. Cloaking is a direct path to sanctions and long-term loss of inventory.

Casino advertising is limited because it protects people and the market. It is impossible and not necessary to bypass the prohibitions: it is risky and unstable. A sustainable path is a legal strategy: white GEO, licenses, whitelisting, honest creatives and transparent tracking without cloaking. This model withstands checks, scales and gives a predictable economy (Payback/LTV) without the threat of locks and fines.