Meta reportedly removed 159 million fraudulent advertisements and 10.9 million accounts across its platforms in 2025. The report says the company is tightening efforts against illegal gambling advertising and joined a UN-led international agreement on scams and fraud alongside other technology companies.
Meta’s reported removals show operators and regulators how the platform is addressing fraudulent and illegal gambling advertising.
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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.
Reportedly, the Dutch gambling authority has opened talks with Google and Meta and other European regulators on curbing illegal online gambling. Its strategy covers restricting access to illegal platforms, blocking payment flows and holding large technology companies to account, while sanctions remain an option.
The Dutch gambling authority, KSA, has opened talks with Google and Meta and with other European regulators on ways to curb illegal online gambling. The strategy set out by KSA chair Michel Groothuizen covers making access to illegal gambling platforms harder, blocking payment flows and holding large technology companies to account. Sanctions against the platforms remain an option, the report said.
The KSA said it will first seek voluntary agreements with Meta and Google to address adverts for illegal gambling in the Netherlands. Chairman Michel Groothuizen said around 90% of users use regulated offerings, while illegal gambling spend rivals licensed-sector revenues. The authority is also targeting payment processors and online visibility, and has begun work with Google on a whitelist of EU-licensed operators.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has criticised Meta and Google over adverts for illegal gambling operators, with chair Michel Groothuizen saying the regulator will first seek voluntary agreements with the technology companies before considering legal action. The KSA's position was reported on 15 October 2026.
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is working with Google and Meta to curb advertising by unlicensed gambling operators, including through a proposed EU-wide whitelist of authorised operators. KSA president Michel Groothuizen said the regulator may pursue legal action if voluntary measures do not deliver sufficient results.
The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is working with Google and Meta to limit advertising by unlicensed gambling operators, including through a proposed whitelist of authorised operators across the European Union. KSA president Michel Groothuizen set out the approach in remarks published on 14 October 2026, saying the regulator may take legal action if voluntary measures do not produce sufficient results.
The KSA and some other European regulators are working with Google and Meta in a task force. The group is preparing a whitelist of legal gambling companies in the EU; Google will exclude online casinos that are not listed. KSA chair Michel Groothuizen said the authority may take action if cooperation proves ineffective.
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) and several other European regulators are working with Google and Meta in a task force that is preparing a whitelist of legal gambling companies in the European Union, KSA chair Michel Groothuizen said in his latest blog. Under the arrangement, every online casino not on the whitelist will be treated as illegal and excluded by Google.