Google Ads has begun letting a limited set of advertisers apply for online gambling certification from inside their accounts. Search Engine Roundtable’s Barry Schwartz reported the change on October 16, citing Google’s policy notice.
Google says the capability started this month and will reach all advertisers incrementally, so many accounts will not see it yet. Affected advertisers can apply through a new Policy > Account section under Admin, or keep using the Google Ads Help Center. Google also said existing certifications and pending applications are unaffected.
Schwartz noted that the Help Center document on advertising certain products and services shows no changes tied to this news. Online gambling already appears in that document, so the shift concerns where applications happen, not which content is covered. It follows the YouTube Masthead opening to certified online gambling advertisers, which we covered on October 9.
Gambling advertisers should check Admin for the new section and confirm which application route their account uses before filing, since availability varies by account.
Search Engine Roundtable, reported by Barry Schwartz on October 16, 2026.
