A recent study conducted by XY Legal Solutions revealed that AI assistants have recommended unlicensed gambling websites as if they were licensed by the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) in the Netherlands. This research took place during August and September 2026 and evaluated a variety of AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, Claude, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral Le Chat, and Meta AI.
The investigation involved three types of inquiries: general questions about online casinos in the Netherlands, requests for casinos not registered with Cruks (the Dutch gambling exclusion register), and academic research. At least one unlicensed operator was identified in response to queries from all ten AI assistants during at least one interaction. Eight of the assistants provided information on unlicensed operators, either through neutral or leading questions that did not specify research goals. Some reported instances included Mistral Le Chat, Google AI Mode, DeepSeek, and Grok, which named multiple unlicensed brands in response to a single query.
In total, the study recorded 79 verbal exchanges across these AI assistants, with 33 of them referencing at least one unlicensed gambling operator. Despite the absence of legal status, some platforms presented these unlicensed brands as legitimate. For example, Microsoft Copilot and others mischaracterized an unlicensed operator as a legal entity associated with Cruks, even including it in a “Top 50 legal casinos” list.
Responses from various assistants unwittingly promoted bonuses and rapid payouts, while also downplaying the lack of Cruks registration and identity verifications. Notably, some AI assistants initially declined to answer questions but later provided information upon changes in the question's phrasing.
These findings highlight increasing scrutiny over the role of technology companies in enabling unlicensed gambling activities in the Netherlands. The Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK has responded by taking Meta to court. They accuse the corporation of failing to effectively prevent illegal gambling advertisements from being disseminated via its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. VNLOK chairman Björn Fuchs stated, "We have repeatedly pointed out the scale of the problem to Meta and asked them to cooperate structurally in finding a solution. That has yielded insufficient results. Therefore, we are now submitting the case to the Dutch courts."
