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Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK has launched legal action against Meta and filed a complaint with the European Commission over the continued display of illegal online gambling advertisements on Facebook and Instagram targeting users in the Netherlands.
According to the association, the country’s illegal online gambling market now generates more than €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in estimated annual revenue, placing it on par with the regulated market.
VNLOK said Meta-owned platforms carried more than 70,000 gambling-related advertisements during the fourth quarter of 2025. The association estimated that more than 95% of those advertisements were placed by unlicensed gambling operators.
Despite the volume of reported advertisements, VNLOK said Meta removed fewer than 5% of them.
The association said Meta generally removes illegal gambling content only after users or authorities report it, comparing the company’s approach to mopping up a flood while leaving the tap running.
The Dutch gambling regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), supported concerns over the volume of illegal gambling advertising in its 2025 annual report, stating that it submitted thousands of complaints to Meta each month during 2025.
The KSA also said that illegal gambling advertisements typically remain online for about a day and a half before removal, after which similar advertisements reappear under slightly altered identities or URLs.
Licensed gambling companies have argued that unlicensed competitors routinely ignore measures intended to minimize gambling-related harm.
VNLOK chairman Björn Fuchs warned about the continued presence of illegal gambling advertising, stating that “vulnerable players, including young people, are exposed to great risks.”
The legal action comes while the Dutch government is pursuing additional restrictions on gambling marketing. Earlier in June, the cabinet proposed a near-total ban on online gambling advertising and bonuses, while allowing limited exceptions intended to maintain visibility for licensed operators.
Licensed operators have expressed concern that the proposed restrictions could unintentionally increase traffic to illegal gambling websites, affecting efforts to promote responsible gambling.
The KSA reported in its 2025 annual report that channelization declined to 49% during the first half of 2025..