Balatro continues to suffer from its links to gambling as YouTube‘s algorithm allegedly is placing age restricitons on one of 2024’s standout video games.
Highlighted by the YouTube channel, Balatro University, which had nearly 90,000 subscribers, Balatro content is being funneled into the social media channel’s age restrictions, apparently due to its depictions of gambling following YouTube’s recent terms of service change that was enacted on March 19.
While gambling isn’t a part of the games core gameplay, the visual representation is modelled of the staple poker game, which could line itself with YouTube’s service change, which states:
- “Content that does not violate our Community Guidelines but still features depictions or promotions of online casino sites or apps may be ag-restricted. This means that online gambling content (excluding online sports betting and depictions on in-person gambling) won’t be viewable to signed-out useres or users under 18.
This recent struggle for Balatro comes only a few months after the poker-inspired video game had its Pan-European Game Information age (PEGI) rating reduced from 18 to 12.
Following considerations from PEGI, Europe’s gaming regulator decided to drop the age rating and stated: “although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements”.
