Snapchat Gaming Ads: What’s Allowed & What’s Not in 2025
If you’ve ever worked in the gaming marketing space, you’d know that it is a total nightmare to run a successful campaign, especially on social media. Why? Well, most social media platforms have strict gaming ad policies, and in most cases, they don’t allow you to run ads if you haven’t met their requirements.
But what about Snapchat? Although Snapchat has lost its popularity due to other platforms like Instagram and TikTok, it still has a huge member base of roughly 850 million monthly active users, which is a lot.
This means that Snapchat is one of the top choices for online gaming platforms to run ads. On top of that, Snapchat is mostly popular among younger demographics, which are the perfect target audience for online bingo games or new technologies like crypto gaming.
Still, are gaming ads allowed on Snapchat? Well, just like any other major platform, Snapchat also has strict policies when it comes to gaming-related ads. Why? Well, it is necessary for them in order to ensure compliance with legal standards and to protect users – especially minors (which are 21% of the entire user base) from exposure to potentially harmful content.
However, this doesn’t mean that all gaming ads are prohibited. Advertisers just need to follow a set of rules stated in the Snapchat policy, and they are good to go.
Let’s dive deeper and find out what’s allowed and what’s not when it comes to Snapchat Gaming Ads.
What Does the Snapchat Policy Say for Gaming Ads?
Okay, let’s get one thing straight from the start. Running gaming ads on Snapchat is possible, but very difficult.
Snapchat has rigorous guidelines when it comes to gaming advertisements, and any company that wishes to promote gaming services must first obtain explicit approval from Snapchat.
This means that a company must submit legal documentation proving the gaming operation is fully licensed and adheres to local laws in the regions where the ads will appear.
Yes, Snapchat also looks at where your gaming parlor is authorized to operate, and you can only advertise in those regions.
The key requirement for all gaming ads is that they must be geo-restricted. In other words, visible in jurisdictions where such promotions are legally permitted. But that’s just the start of the process.
Snapchat also wants you to create a clear and reasonable gaming message. Plus adding warnings about the risks associated with gaming is a great way to get your ads approved.
Even after being approved by Snapchat, you submit the ads (creatives) for a second approval, and they can be denied if you say things like “Become a Millionaire”.
But let’s talk about something that we are all interested in – targeting! This is a major deal for every ad campaign, and it dictates whether or not the ad is successful or not.
But targeting is another major aspect of compliance with Snapchat. Advertisers must use Snapchat’s age-gating tools to ensure gaming-related content is only shown to users who meet the legal age requirement for betting, in their respective country.
This is a very strict policy, and if you fail to adhere to the guidelines, it can lead to your ads being removed, account suspension, or even legal consequences. So, make sure you choose the right audience.
What’s Allowed in Snapchat Gaming Ads?
While gaming ads are permitted under strict conditions, Snapchat places specific restrictions on the types of content that can be promoted. Generally, approved gaming advertisements may include:
- Sports betting promotions (where legal)
- Online gaming parlors and poker platforms (subject to licensing requirements)
- Lottery advertisements from official operators
- Promotions for responsible gaming initiatives
Just remember, all ads must be presented in a responsible manner, avoiding any implication that gaming is a risk-free activity, a guaranteed way to make money, or shady things like that.
Snapchat policies are really tough, and they have very efficient systems for tracking policy violations. Therefore ads that glorify gaming, or target minors, will be rejected, and it might lead to further consequences.
What’s Not Allowed?
Snapchat prohibits gaming ads that:
- Target underage users, either intentionally or through poor audience controls
- Feature celebrities or influencers in ways that might appeal to younger audiences
- Mislead users about their chances of winning
- Promote unlicensed or unregulated gaming services
- Encourage excessive gaming behaviors
But sneaky companies always find a way to reach more people. There was a recent incident where a gaming company used Snapchat’s filter feature to show gaming-related filters, which eventually reached underage users.
Since the incident, Snapchat has tightened its approval process for gaming businesses, making it even harder to run campaigns.
Final Words
Yes, Snapchat has strict policies when it comes to gaming ads, but compared to other platforms like TikTok, the process is less complicated. This is a good thing. After all, gaming is aimed at adults, and underage people shouldn’t consume such content.
However, some advertisers attempt to circumvent these guidelines by disguising gaming promotions as general entertainment or using indirect language to avoid detection. This is a short-term strategy since Snapchat will eventually catch these businesses.
Other businesses also use influencer marketing tactics, where social media personalities promote gaming services which means that gaming companies don’t have to go through the complex system of approval.
At the end of the day, no system is perfect, but Snapchat at least has a good solid foundation that allows gaming businesses to promote their services without impacting underage people.