How should affiliate relationships be disclosed?
Treat disclosure as an existing requirement, not a newly announced 2026 rule. FTC guidance calls for clear and conspicuous disclosure of affiliate relationships and explains that “affiliate link” alone may not communicate the financial connection adequately. Placement near the recommendation matters. (ftc.gov)
Recommended editorial controls include plain-language commission disclosures near relevant recommendations, mobile placement checks and separation between evidence-based editorial findings and paid promotional copy. A disclosure should not be treated as curing an otherwise unlawful destination or unsupported claim.
Does the fake-reviews rule cover every editorial review in the same way?
No. Preserve the distinctions. The FTC’s Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule took effect on 21 October 2024. Its guidance distinguishes consumer reviews and testimonials from endorsements by entities, while addressing business-controlled review sites that falsely purport to be independent. (ftc.gov)
Recommended action: prohibit fabricated player experiences and invented testing claims. Record whether a review is based on hands-on observation, supplier documentation or unverified information. Do not describe an untested demo as independently validated.
Can a lawful demo page still encounter advertising-platform restrictions?
Yes; platform eligibility is a separate assessment. Google’s current Gambling and games policy distinguishes online gambling, gambling-promoting content and social casino games. For affiliates advertising gambling-promoting content, it requires eligible destinations and restricts US geographic targeting; its certification is not a government licence or a grant of game-distribution rights. (support.google.com)
Recommended action: assess the advertised domain and its outbound links, not just the selected landing-page iframe. Keep platform approval, legal review and studio authorisation in separate evidence records. This section describes current platform policy, not a newly enacted law.