Hello, community! It’s common to see claims in affiliate marketing media that promoting certain verticals through certain targeting methods is “prohibited.” But what exactly happens if, say, you directly launch a campaign promoting an online casino? Let’s break it all down in this article.
Before we begin, remember: nearly every ad campaign you launch will go through moderation first. We’ve already explained how moderation works — highly recommended reading.
What Kind of Government Penalties Are We Talking About?
If you plan to advertise gambling, be aware that you could face penalties from:
- The ad network
- The country you’re targeting with gambling ads
- The country you’re operating from
Let’s start with the most important — the law. One striking example took place last spring:
In Turkey, a group of Iranian citizens was arrested for allegedly creating and promoting gambling and betting websites. These actions are illegal in Iran — and can carry the harshest penalties, including the death sentence.
So, a few important takeaways:
- First — never launch campaigns targeting countries where gambling can get you executed. This mostly applies to Muslim-majority countries.
- Second — don’t take risks even if you’re not physically in the country you’re targeting. Partner nations might still arrest you.
- Third — always check the laws of the country you’re operating from. Gambling might not be banned outright but only decriminalized, which is very different from full legalization. There may still be strict limits on promoting gambling, even if it’s technically legal.
The Iranian case is extreme, but it illustrates the stakes. It’s unclear whether they ran Iranian-language landers or had their own casino brand — reliable data is scarce in countries with tight information control.
But we can look at what happens in more developed nations. In 2023, the Australian media group Seven Network was fined for showing a betting ad during a sports match. The fine: $13,320. But the bigger issue is the precedent — a major media outlet penalized for promoting gambling in a country where it’s legal. Turns out, the advertising of gambling is still regulated separately.
Of course, punishing an affiliate running gray offers from 10 burner accounts is not the same as fining a major broadcaster. But we still strongly advise minimizing your risks and staying within the legal bounds of any country you deal with.
Penalties from Ad Networks
Now, let’s talk about ad networks. Nothing surprising here: promoting gambling through ad networks where it’s not allowed will likely get your account banned. You could also lose your ad balance, and don’t expect a refund.
If you think using a cloaker will keep you safe — that’s only partially true. Ad networks can still penalize you for bad creatives, especially if there’s misleading content.
If the moderation process doesn’t catch anything, your next risk comes from the traffic itself. Campaigns can be shut down due to complaints — and those same complaints can get your account banned.
That’s why affiliates working in gray niches like gambling often buy multiple ad accounts. Even if you follow every best practice, one “report-happy” user could sink your campaign with a flood of complaints.
So should you avoid gambling ads on platforms that prohibit them? No — otherwise affiliate marketing wouldn’t exist. But NEVER use personal accounts for restricted verticals.
How to Avoid Penalties from Ad Networks
There are many proven techniques affiliates use to reduce the risk of penalties. First — white pages and cloaking. These tools can fool automated moderation, letting you run campaigns and make money before anything gets blocked (if it even does — a solid funnel can run for a long time).
Always review the offer carefully. Even in countries where gambling is legal, certain casinos might be blacklisted — and promoting them could lead to serious consequences, not just a banned account.
Understand the ad network’s creative requirements. Your campaign might be fine if you offer users free spins — and they actually get them after signing up. But promising a huge guaranteed win to anyone who clicks your link? That’s not getting past moderation.
And finally — stay up to date. Track legal changes in the countries you operate in. Follow the ad networks’ latest restrictions. You don’t want to end up in jail because you missed a policy update, right?
Conclusion
Working with any gray vertical means walking a fine line — one wrong move and you’re a criminal in the EU, or you’re hit with a hefty fine for breaking gambling ad rules. We’re talking tens of thousands of dollars here.
But that doesn’t mean you should avoid these high-earning verticals altogether. Just make sure you understand both the funnel and the law: the country where you live, where you’re running traffic, and even where you might travel in the future. Plan ahead.
Penalties from ad networks are real. But they’re fairly easy to bypass — and the consequences are minimal if you’re using bought accounts and keeping your personal assets safe.
Have you ever faced penalties for promoting gambling? Share your experience in our Telegram community, where we’re always talking about what matters most in affiliate marketing!
Respectfully, your Geek!