YouTube Bans Booze, Drugs, Political Ads On Masthead

Axios reports:

YouTube will stop accepting ads for its masthead ad unit from certain verticals, including alcohol sales, gambling, prescription drugs, and election and political ads, Axios has learned. YouTube’s masthead, a highly visible rectangle across the top of the homepage, is often the platform’s most expensive and sought-after ad unit.

Beginning Monday, ads that feature any gambling-related content offline or online, including sports betting and casino games, will be banned. The ban will also apply to ads that promote the sale of alcohol, as well as branding ads for alcoholic beverages that don’t explicitly reference sales. Ads that are endorsing a candidate for office will be banned.

Read the full article.

Scoop: YouTube to ban masthead ads for the following verticals:
— Politics and elections
— Gambling (including sports betting)
— Alcohol (including branding ads for beverages)
— Prescription drugs
More on @axios: https://t.co/FCuYbabZJ5

— Sara Fischer (@sarafischer) June 14, 2021