Google Starts Moving Gambling Certification Into Ads Accounts

The company announced the change on October 15. It applies to online gambling certification, but not every advertiser will see the new option immediately. Google has not specified when the rollout will be completed.

Applications Move to the Admin Section

Advertisers included in the rollout can submit certification requests directly from their Google Ads accounts. The application option is available under Account in the Policy section of the Admin menu.

The Help Center will continue accepting applications during the transition. Advertisers who do not yet have the new option in their accounts can use the existing process.

Google also confirmed that the launch will not affect certificates already issued or applications currently awaiting a decision. There is no requirement to resubmit an existing application because of the interface change.

The announcement does not introduce new approval deadlines or promise faster processing. For now, the update concerns the submission route rather than the certification criteria.

Google’s Third Certification Rollout in 2026

The October announcement follows two earlier changes involving other restricted advertising categories. A comparison of Google’s notices shows how the company has been moving certification applications into its advertising platform.

• May 4. Google announced in-account applications for four cryptocurrency and financial-product certification types. Applications for those categories would no longer be accepted through the Help Center.
• July 27. Google announced a gradual August rollout for social casino games, initially allowing applications through either channel. The Help Center route for that category was subsequently scheduled to close in September.
• October 15. Online gambling joined the rollout. Google is keeping both application routes available during the initial stage.

There is one difference between the May and October announcements. The earlier change explicitly ended the old application route for the affected financial products. The gambling update does not set such a deadline.

Online gambling is therefore following the gradual approach previously used for social casino games.

Licensing Checks Remain in Place

The application interface is changing, but the underlying gambling advertising requirements remain in force.

Google still requires separate certification applications for each country an advertiser wants to target. Operators must meet the applicable licensing conditions. Affiliate and comparison sites also remain subject to the rules governing gambling-promoting content in their target markets.

The new process is separate from the September 14 certification update previously covered by 15M. That earlier change expanded eligibility checks across Google’s Gambling and games policy, including account compliance history and restrictions affecting Manager Accounts.

No Date for Full Rollout

For advertising agencies managing several gambling accounts, the immediate task is to check which accounts have received the new application option. Accounts without it can still use the Help Center.

Google has not announced a date when all online gambling advertisers will have access to the in-account process.