The Licensed Dutch Online Gaming Providers (VNLOK) trade body is taking Meta to court over a flood of illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram.
Dutch trade association VNLOK has initiated legal action against Meta and lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission, accusing the social media giant of failing to prevent the widespread display of illegal online gambling advertisements targeting Dutch users on Facebook and Instagram.
According to VNLOK, the illegal online gambling market in the Netherlands now matches the size of the regulated sector, with estimated annual revenues in excess of €1 billion ($1.1 billion).
VNLOK reported that in the final quarter of 2025 alone, Meta-owned platforms displayed more than 70,000 gambling-related adverts. The association estimated that unlicensed operators were responsible for over 95% of these adverts. Despite the scale of the problem, VNLOK found that Meta removed less than 5% of these advertisements.
According to VNLOK, Meta typically removes offending content only when users or authorities flag it. The association compared Meta’s approach to mopping up a flood while leaving the tap running.
The Dutch gambling regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), confirmed in its 2025 report that it filed thousands of complaints concerning illegal gambling adverts with Meta on a monthly basis in 2025.
The KSA shared with broadcaster NOS that such ads tend to remain live for approximately a day and a half before being taken down, only to reappear under slightly altered identities or URLs.
Licensed gambling companies argue that their unlicensed competitors routinely ignore measures designed to minimise gambling-related harm.
VNLOK chairman Björn Fuchs highlighted the risks posed by the continued advertising of illegal gambling. Fuchs warned that “vulnerable players, including young people, are exposed to great risks” according to a VNLOK statement.
Dutch regulators struggle to curb illegal gambling ads
This legal confrontation unfolds as the Netherlands government intensifies its regulatory stance on gambling promotion. Earlier in June 2026, the cabinet proposed a near-total ban on online gambling advertising and bonuses, with narrow exceptions to maintain visibility for licensed operators.
Licensed operators have expressed concern that such sweeping restrictions could inadvertently boost the popularity of illegal gambling websites, undermining domestic efforts to promote responsible gambling. KSA flagged in its 2025 annual report that channelisation fell to 49% in the first half of 2025.
