In 2025, Google eliminated over 270 million gambling and gaming advertisements as part of a comprehensive effort that resulted in the removal of more than 8.3 billion ads globally, amid increasing regulatory scrutiny over illicit online betting content.
According to Google’s latest Ads Safety Report, gambling ads ranked as the eighth largest category of prohibited ads, with 270.7 million removed, and the third largest for restricted ads at 123.9 million.
The company noted that over 99% of ads violating policies were blocked before being displayed, as it enhanced its enforcement measures utilizing advanced artificial intelligence tools, including its Gemini system.
Keerat Sharma, Google’s VP and General Manager of Ads Privacy and Safety, stated: “Our teams have consistently utilized advanced AI to pinpoint and eliminate scams, and Gemini takes this process to the next level.” He added that their models assess hundreds of billions of signals—including account age, behavioral patterns, and campaign frameworks—to address threats before they reach users.
“Unlike older keyword-based systems, our latest models have a superior understanding of intent, enabling us to detect harmful content and proactively remove it, even when designed to evade our scrutiny,” Sharma noted.
He further highlighted that Gemini has “significantly enhanced our capacity to identify and eliminate harmful advertisements.”
“Our systems captured over 99% of policy-violating ads before they were ever displayed, and we are continually enhancing our defenses to stay ahead of even the most sophisticated scams,” he said.
Throughout the year, Google suspended 24.9 million advertiser accounts, with 4 million related to fraudulent activities, and eliminated 602 million ads linked to scams, reflecting the vast scale of deception in digital advertising.
The enforcement also targeted publisher content, as actions were taken against over 480 million web pages. The gambling and gaming publishers contributed to 9.7 million policy violations by page volume, positioning them among the most problematic sectors.
Despite these measures, authorities in various regions, including Brazil and parts of Europe, have ramped up pressure on tech platforms concerning the proliferation of illegal gambling advertisements.
In Brazil, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security has sought clarifications from Google and Apple about the presence of illegal betting applications in their app stores, arguing that some lack proper licensing from the country’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets.
Google’s European division has already indicated stricter regulations, with plans to bolster advertising policies in Google Ireland starting March 2026, which will include more rigorous verification requirements for advertisers.
Authorities are also expressing concerns about the influence of social media platforms and influencers in promoting illegal gambling products, as governments across Southeast Asia are taking steps to enhance oversight of AI-driven advertising and ensuring digital safety.
Google mentioned enhancements in its responsiveness to user feedback, taking action on over four times more reports compared to the previous year, while reducing incorrect advertiser suspensions by 80%. This effort is aimed at balancing enforcement with support for legitimate businesses.