On Monday, the Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK officially summoned Meta to court, alleging that the company has permitted a surge of illegal gambling advertisements to reach consumers in the Netherlands.
VNLOK, based in The Hague and representing the licensed online gambling operators in the country, has taken this legal step following several months of investigations and warnings directed at Meta.
The association asserts that over 90% of gambling ads displayed on Facebook are from operators that lack the necessary licensing in the Netherlands. Despite VNLOK flagging this issue, they found that Meta only took down 11% of illegal ads in May and 15% in June of this year.
VNLOK first initiated legal proceedings against Meta in June, claiming that the social media giant failed to curb the proliferation of illegal gambling ads aimed at Dutch users on both Facebook and Instagram. Alongside the lawsuit, VNLOK submitted a formal complaint to the European Commission.
“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,” said Fuchs regarding the ongoing situation.
In a statement released on Monday, VNLOK characterized this latest action as “the final step” in their legal proceedings. They seek a ruling from the court that Meta has not fulfilled its obligations under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates major online platforms to actively combat illegal content. The DSA requires these platforms to implement measures that prevent illegal gambling ads from reaching Dutch users.
VNLOK revealed that Meta-owned platforms displayed over 70,000 gambling-related ads in the last quarter of 2025 alone, with estimates indicating that more than 95% of these originated from unlicensed operators. Alarmingly, VNLOK found that Meta removed less than 5% of these ads.
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), confirmed that it filed thousands of complaints with Meta each month regarding illegal gambling advertisements during 2025.
Simultaneously, there are parliamentary discussions underway in the Netherlands aimed at empowering the KSA with the authority to fine digital platforms that fail to act despite repeated notifications regarding illegal gambling advertising. A motion introduced by MP Bart Bikkers and colleagues from the VVD party will be voted on in the House of Representatives tomorrow. This initiative aims to establish a clear legal framework for imposing sanctions on platforms that allow illegal ads to remain visible after multiple warnings.
While VNLOK supports this parliamentary move, they have urged the KSA to act swiftly without waiting for new legislation. Fuchs stated, "The regulator must hold parties that play a role in reaching Dutch consumers with illegal offerings more emphatically accountable for their responsibility. No legislative amendment is needed for this; the regulator already has those legal options."
He further remarked, “Meta is currently the party we are taking legal action against, but the problem is broader. If an illegal provider is removed via one platform, the same provider pops up again via another channel. Then we are constantly playing catch-up. All parties in this chain must take responsibility.”
Earlier this month, during a debate in the House of Representatives’ gambling committee, it was emphasized that maintaining open communication with Meta and similar tech companies is critical in protecting players from the expanding black market of illegal gambling.
Members raised concerns about the growing prevalence of advertisements for illegal gambling sites across social media as VNLOK has pursued legal action against Meta to directly address the issue. Minister Claudia Van Bruggen mentioned that Meta has indicated willingness to engage in dialogue with the government to collaborate on eliminating the black market. She noted that the government would receive biannual reports on illegal gambling advertising across these platforms and stressed the need for a coordinated response at the EU level through the Digital Services Act.
