Google lifts ad ban in Denmark and Chile
Google’s revised policy now permits ads for contracts for difference (CFDs), rolling spot forex, and comparable financial instruments in Denmark and Chile, effective October 2026.
The change in Denmark requires providers to be authorized by Finanstilsynet, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. In Chile, providers must be registered with and authorized by the Financial Market Commission (CMF) or the Central Bank of Chile.
In both countries, advertisers must meet all applicable local legal requirements and hold Google certification. Violations will not lead to immediate account suspension, as Google will issue a warning at least seven days before any suspension.
The Danish change follows an earlier restriction in August 2023, when Google prohibited ads for complex speculative financial products, including CFDs and rolling spot forex. This restriction also applied to Spain, with enforcement starting on August 3, 2023.
Google has also revised its rules for the United Arab Emirates market. From October 21, the search engine giant will apply updated licensing requirements to ads for crypto exchanges, software wallets, CFDs, and rolling spot forex targeting users in the UAE.
For CFD and forex advertising, Google recognizes licenses from the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Firms in all four categories need a license for the service they promote and separate Google certification.
Google’s restrictions on the category date back to 2018, when it announced a ban on ads from forex and CFD affiliates and aggregators, and outright banned binary options providers. Firms offering CFDs, forex, and spread betting would need Google certification and a license from the financial authority of each country they targeted.
Other platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, also implemented similar bans on ads for binary options, cryptocurrencies, and ICOs in 2018. Microsoft’s Bing also disallowed cryptocurrency advertising on its network in 2018.
Google’s policy update is a significant change for advertisers in Denmark and Chile. They must ensure they meet the new requirements to continue advertising on the platform. The update also affects advertisers in the UAE, who must comply with the new licensing requirements.
