X, the social media giant formerly known as Twitter, enforces a stringent gambling policy for paid advertising products to curb risky promotions and comply with global regulations.
Yet, platforms like PrediBot enable users to place bets via tweets, raising the question, Why is some gambling content allowed on X while other forms are banned?
Currently, X’s rules aim to limit gambling ads, but user-driven, decentralized betting systems exploit loopholes and compliance mechanisms to operate freely.
This article dissects X’s gambling policy, examines why certain activities like tweet-based betting are permitted, and analyzes why some content is acceptable. In contrast, some content and /or promotions are not.
We will explore the gray areas that drive this paradox in the evolving landscape of Web3 and social media.
What Is X’s Stated Gambling Policy?
X’s gambling content policy is clear: it “prohibits the promotion of gambling content, except for campaigns targeting specified countries where it is allowed with restrictions.”
This applies to ads for online casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and similar services, reflecting X’s commitment to user safety and legal compliance.
Core Restrictions
- Ad Certification Required: Advertisers must secure X’s approval through a rigorous process, proving they hold valid gambling licenses and comply with local laws. For instance, sports betting ads were permitted in Ghana in June 2025, but only for certified operators.
- Banned Promotions: Undisclosed or unauthorized ads, especially in restricted regions, are prohibited. X faced a €1.35 million fine in Italy in early 2025 for allowing unapproved gambling ads.
- Regional Nuances: The policy varies globally. EU countries enforce tighter rules under GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and anti addiction laws, while crypto friendly regions like parts of Asia are more flexible.
Permitted Content
Non-promotional content, like discussions about sports odds or fantasy leagues, is allowed if it avoids direct calls to action or links to unlicensed platforms. This exception creates space for organic, user-generated posts, which some platforms leverage to avoid restrictions.
Why Some Gambling Content Is Allowed on X
Despite the anti-gambling stance, certain content thrives due to structural workarounds, off-platform execution, and compliance strategies that distinguish it from banned promotions.
User-Driven Content Evades Ad Restrictions
Platforms like PrediBot (@predibot_) enable users to post tweets like “Bet 5 $PREDI on Team A #PredictBase” to initiate bets.
These are organic, user-generated posts, not sponsored ads, so they don’t trigger X’s certification requirements.
Unlike traditional gambling ads like a casino banner, these tweets are treated as personal expressions, akin to chatting about sports odds, making them acceptable under X’s rules.
Off-Platform Execution Minimizes X’s Role
Tweet-based betting, like that powered by PrediBot on the PredictBase protocol, uses external blockchains such as Base (an Ethereum Layer 2 network for low cost, scalable transactions) or NEAR Protocol (a high speed Layer 1 chain optimized for dApps) to handle the actual wagering and settlements.
X acts solely as an input interface. Your tweet, “Bet 5 $PREDI on Team A #PredictBase”, is scanned by PrediBot’s AI, which then triggers smart contracts on these blockchains to lock funds, verify outcomes via oracles, and distribute payouts automatically, all without X processing any bets or holding funds.
This setup keeps X compliant with its policies by offloading the core gambling mechanics to decentralized networks.
This reduces X’s liability, as it’s not hosting gambling activities, unlike a direct ad linking to an unlicensed casino, which would violate policy.
Compliance Mechanisms Align with Regulations
PrediBot and similar platforms use geofencing to restrict access in banned regions and require $PREDI tokens, which act as a gatekeeper, requiring users to hold or acquire them to participate in betting via PrediBot.
This creates a barrier that limits access to users who are actively engaged in the PredictBase ecosystem, often those aware of the platform’s rules and regional restrictions.
By requiring $PREDI, the platform ensures only users who’ve set up a compatible crypto wallet and obtained tokens can bet, which helps filter out casual or underage users who might not comply with local gambling laws.
Unlike overt promotions from platforms like Stake, which were flagged for undisclosed ads in February 2025, tweet-based systems include disclaimers, aligning with X’s expectation that users comply with local laws.
Exploiting Policy Gray Areas on X
Tweet betting operates in a regulatory gray zone. It is not classified as advertising, yet it facilitates gambling in ways similar to Stake’s earlier organic posts, which slipped past moderation due to their non-promotional framing.
The emergence of PrediBot, integrated with Virtuals Protocol in July 2025, pushes this further. Its decentralized design makes it difficult to classify as a traditional gambling service, raising new challenges for enforcement.
Why Enforcement Struggles
X faces major challenges in moderating gambling-related content at scale.
AI filters and human reviewers can detect blatant casino promotions but often miss subtler betting content disguised as casual tweets.
For example, Community Notes flagged Stake’s promotions, but user-driven betting hashtags blend naturally into conversation, making them harder to detect.
Scale of the Platform
With over 500 million daily posts, proactive monitoring is nearly impossible.
Traditional gambling ads can be identified and targeted, but tweet-based betting slips under the radar due to their subtlety.
Policy Shifts
X’s 2025 policy updates, such as allowing more ad categories in regions like Ghana, show the platform is seeking a balance between monetization and compliance.
This opens wiggle room for decentralized platforms that differ from traditional gambling operators, which face stricter oversight.
PrediBot’s Model
Launched in July 2025, PrediBot allows users to tweet bets that its AI interprets and executes on PredictBase’s blockchain.
Oracle-verified results, such as sports outcomes, determine payouts.
Why It Avoids Bans
PrediBot remains acceptable under X’s rules because tweets are organic rather than paid promotions.
Betting occurs off-platform through decentralized execution, separating it from direct casino links that typically trigger bans. Features like geofencing and token-based access help it align with legal requirements.
Contrast with Prohibited Ads
Conventional ads—like a crypto casino banner shown to U.S. audiences—are blocked for lacking certification and breaching local laws. PrediBot avoids these pitfalls by decentralizing operations and relying on user initiative.
Implications Moving Forward
For users, tweet-based betting feels seamless but carries risks of account flags or legal repercussions, especially in regions with strict bans such as the EU or certain U.S. states.
For platforms like PrediBot, the model taps into X’s vast user base but must adapt to tightening regulations, such as the UK’s gambling safety rules introduced in May 2025.
The challenge for X is balancing Web3 innovation with regulatory compliance.
Its permissive stance on organic content creates opportunities for decentralized betting but also invites scrutiny and potential penalties.
Future Outlook
By the end of 2025, X may revise its Web3 policies in response to evolving regulations in the EU and U.S., potentially clamping down on decentralized betting.
Advances in AI moderation could close some loopholes, though crypto-friendly regions will likely sustain growth.
Users will need to stay aware of local laws, while platforms must evolve to stay compliant in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
