The creator of poker roguelike Balatro has spoken out after YouTube began age-restricting videos of the popular indie game. LocalThunk expressed frustration over what appears to be a misunderstanding of the game’s mechanics.
Apparently Balatro videos are being rated 18+ on @YouTube now for gambling
— localthunk (@LocalThunk) April 5, 2025
Good thing we are protecting children from knowing what a 4 of a kind is and letting them watch CS case opening videos instead
Balatro, which has developed a devoted following and earned Game of the Year nominations, uses poker hand visuals and scoring mechanisms but contains no actual gambling elements. Players don’t bet real or virtual currency, making it fundamentally different from actual gambling games.
LocalThunk criticized what many see as inconsistency in YouTube’s moderation policies. While Balatro videos face restrictions, content featuring games with genuine gambling mechanics like FIFA Ultimate Team and CS:GO case openings often remain freely accessible without age gates.
“YouTube: Here’s adverts for scams, pornography, and gambling. Also YouTube: Woah woah that video game has cards we can’t monetize that,” remarked another player, highlighting the perceived double standard.
The age restriction could significantly impact Balatro‘s visibility on the platform. For indie developers, YouTube serves as a crucial marketing channel, and limitations can directly affect sales and community growth.
Cards stacked against indies
This situation reflects broader challenges faced by independent developers navigating content moderation systems that sometimes focus more on superficial appearances than actual gameplay mechanics.
While Balatro merely borrows the aesthetic and scoring system of poker, its card-based visuals appear to have triggered automated or human moderation decisions.
YouTube’s policy aims to protect younger viewers from gambling influences, but many argue this misapplication hampers games that only incorporate the visual language of gambling without its problematic aspects.
