The Kansspelautoriteit launched two Dutch campaigns addressing young people’s exposure to gambling and gambling harm. One encourages parents to discuss gambling with their children; the other targets young adults experiencing gambling problems and urges them to seek help early.
The campaigns set out the regulator’s current approach to gambling exposure and harm among young people.
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VNLOK chairman Björn Fuchs said the Dutch betting trade body has clear evidence of failures by Meta that let audiences be drawn to illegal gambling content. Speaking at the Gaming in Spain Conference, he described the Dutch challenge as one that will affect all European markets.
Dutch gambling association Vnlok has sued Meta in an Amsterdam court, alleging that the company failed to take sufficient action against illegal gambling adverts targeting Dutch consumers. Vnlok said its review found that more than 90% of the gambling adverts it analysed on Facebook were linked to illegal operators; it also reported removal rates of 11% in May and 15% in June.
Lawyer Justin Franssen, a partner at Franssen Tolboom Attorneys at Law, accused the KSA of leaving existing enforcement powers unused against platforms carrying illegal gambling ads in the Netherlands. VNLOK chairman Björn Fuchs said the association's lawsuit seeks to compel Meta to fulfil its obligations under the EU Digital Services Act.
Lawyer Justin Franssen, a partner at Franssen Tolboom Attorneys at Law, said the KSA has the legal powers to act against Meta and other platforms that carry illegal gambling advertisements but does not use them. He made the accusation at the SBC Summit on Wednesday, according to a report of the panel. The Dutch online gambling trade association VNLOK has sued Meta, and its chairman, Björn Fuchs, set out what the association expects from the case.
Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK has summoned Meta to court, alleging that Facebook and Instagram distributed illegal gambling advertisements targeting consumers in the Netherlands. VNLOK says Meta removed 15% of illegal advertisements in June and is asking the court to require compliance with the Digital Services Act and stronger safeguards.
Dutch trade association VNLOK said 93.7% of gambling advertisements on Facebook and Instagram in June 2026 came from unlicensed operators, following a 96.5% share in May. The group said Meta removed 11% of more than 60,000 illegal ads it identified in May and 15% in June, and called for advertiser checks before campaigns run.