ROGA published its Marketing and Advertising Code on August 17, 2026, before announcing it the following day. It gives members three months from publication or activation of membership to apply the standards to real-money iGaming and online sports betting marketing. On the publication-date calculation, the first rollout should end around November 17, 2026, but that timing and each operator’s current membership and certification status should be rechecked.
For casino players, the expected changes concern how member offers are described, targeted and delivered. Bonus terms must be clearly disclosed, claims about odds and outcomes must be accurate, paid partnerships must be identifiable, and messages cannot present gambling as risk-free, easy money or a financial strategy. The code does not ban bonuses or standardise wagering requirements, expiry periods, game contribution, maximum bets, withdrawal conditions or forfeiture rules.
What players should check during the three-month rollout
As of September 1, 2026, ROGA’s initial implementation window had not ended. The code says it applies to a member’s marketing, advertising and promotions within three months of publication or activation of ROGA membership. Because the [code page](https://www.responsibleonlinegaming.org/updates/marketing-advertising-code/) is dated August 17 and the [announcement](https://www.responsibleonlinegaming.org/updates/roga-releases-marketing-and-advertising-code-establishing-standards-for-responsible-online-gamin/) is dated August 18, the first deadline appears to fall around November 17 if publication controls. ROGA does not give a separate calendar deadline, so the date should be confirmed before relying on it.
Do not assume every advertisement has already been updated—or that a changed advertisement proves the underlying offer has improved. Before opting in, capture the ad, landing page and full terms with the date and time visible. Record the required deposit, whether play-through applies to the bonus alone or the deposit and bonus, eligible games, contribution rates, expiry, maximum stake, order in which balances are used, withdrawal restrictions and what is forfeited if the offer is cancelled or expires. Our guides to [welcome bonus terms](/casino-bonuses/casino-welcome-bonus-terms) and [wagering requirements](/casino-bonuses/casino-bonus-wagering-requirements-explained) explain these checks in more detail.
What should change in member bonus advertising
Once applicable, the code requires ROGA members to disclose promotion, bonus and offer terms clearly. Marketing claims must be truthful and accurate about odds and potential outcomes. Ads and promotions must carry problem-gambling information required by the relevant law or regulation, and they cannot describe gambling as a financial strategy, guaranteed route to success, easy way to win or risk-free activity. They also cannot encourage players to chase losses. These standards apply across member marketing channels, including work performed under contract by affiliates, advertising agencies, influencers, ambassadors and other talent partners.
The audience rules should also affect where players encounter these offers. Marketing generally must be placed where reliable demographic data indicates that at least 75% of the expected audience is of legal gambling age. Members must use commercially reasonable age restrictions for digital marketing, while paid influencer and creator relationships must be disclosed clearly and prominently. Under ROGA’s definition, legal age is determined by the applicable state or local framework and can vary by jurisdiction and product. The site-level message remains: gambling is 18+ only.
What “clearly disclosed” does—and does not—guarantee
Clear disclosure is a general standard, not a promise that every material condition will fit in an ad headline. The code does not say that all bonus rules must appear in the main creative, and it does not establish a universal one-click disclosure format. A short advertisement may still direct players to fuller conditions. The practical test is whether you can locate, read and understand those conditions before committing money or play. If important restrictions are missing, difficult to reach or inconsistent with the advertisement, preserve both versions and ask the operator for a written explanation before claiming.
Existing state rules may be more detailed. New Jersey provides one example of expectations around clear, accessible offer terms and records showing presentation, activation, expiry and eligibility. Pennsylvania’s interactive-gaming regulations require promotion terms covering matters such as eligibility, required actions, dates, eligible games, the order in which funds are used, withdrawal restrictions and cancellation. These are state examples, not nationwide rules, and ROGA’s code remains subject to the laws and regulations where each member operates.
What does not change after rollout
ROGA’s code does not prohibit casino bonuses or determine their economic value. It creates no universal cap on play-through, expiry periods, game-contribution rates or maximum bets. It does not eliminate withdrawal restrictions, locked balances, fund-use rules or forfeiture consequences. An operator can therefore run a promotion with demanding mechanics while describing those mechanics more clearly. A dated [DraftKings casino deposit-bonus explainer](https://support.draftkings.com/dk/en-us/deposit-bonus-casino-bonus-overview?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0010373) illustrates why the distinction matters: play-through, different game contributions, an expiry window and forfeiture conditions can all form part of an offer. Its figures describe that operator example, not a permanent or market-wide rule.
The code is also not a federal gambling law, state regulation, operator licence or approval of a particular promotion. Real-money online casino availability, legal age, permitted products and complaint procedures remain state-specific. Verify the exact operator, domain and casino product with the regulator for the state where you are physically located; sportsbook availability does not necessarily mean online casino play is authorised. The [US state-by-state player checklist](/country-guides/us-online-casinos-state-by-state-checklist), [AGA State of Play map](https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-of-play-map/) and [iGaming Centre licence resources](https://igamingcentre.com/licenses) provide useful starting points. This is general information, not legal advice.
Which advertising falls outside the code
The code covers real-money iGaming and online sports betting marketing by ROGA members. It does not automatically bind nonmembers. It also excludes a member’s non-gaming brands and activities. Use of a name, logo or brand by itself is outside the stated definitions when the material does not expressly promote a gaming service or contain a call to action. Players should therefore avoid treating every gambling-related logo placement or nonmember advertisement as evidence that ROGA’s standards apply.
Membership matters at the time of the advertisement. Before making a claim under the code, confirm the operator’s current ROGA membership, the relevant implementation date and whether the material actually promotes a covered real-money service. ROGA says substantiated non-compliant material should be withdrawn, with repeated failures potentially affecting certification or membership status. The code does not promise refunds, account adjustments or compensation to individual players.
How to opt out or report a problem
Members must provide a clear, readily accessible way to opt out of future marketing communications. They must also let customers restrict or revoke access to promotions and direct marketing alongside controls such as time-outs and self-exclusion. A member must not target or increase marketing to a customer it has flagged through its own responsible-gaming procedures while the applicable review, restriction or suppression remains active. If messages continue after an opt-out, keep the request confirmation and later emails, texts or notifications.
A suspected code breach can be reported to ROGA, but a bonus-balance or payout dispute should follow the operator’s complaint process and then the procedure set by the relevant state regulator. Preserve the original ad, complete terms, opt-in confirmation, account history, transaction records and support correspondence. State what happened, when it happened and what resolution you want. Do not make another deposit or chase losses while a dispute is open. Consider limits, a time-out or self-exclusion if play is no longer controlled; see our [responsible-gambling tools guide](/safety/responsible-gambling-tools-online-casinos) and [iGaming Centre responsible-gambling resources](https://igamingcentre.com/responsible-gambling). Gambling is 18+ only.
Useful iGaming Centre links
Official context
FAQ
Does ROGA’s code ban US online casino bonuses?
No. It sets voluntary marketing standards for members but does not ban bonuses or standardise wagering, expiry, game-contribution, withdrawal or forfeiture rules.
When should ROGA members apply the advertising code?
The code gives members three months from publication or activation of membership. For the initial publication, that appears to mean around November 17, 2026, but players should recheck the date and operator’s membership status.
Where should I report a bonus-advertising problem?
A suspected code breach can go to ROGA. For a balance or payout dispute, use the operator’s complaint process and then the relevant state regulator’s procedure, keeping the ad, terms and account records.
