Dutch online gambling association VNLOK said it plans to take Meta to court over adverts for unlicensed gambling appearing on its platforms in the Netherlands. VNLOK said Meta had removed only 5% of illegal gambling adverts and added that it had contacted the European Commission.
VNLOK’s planned case challenges Meta over unlicensed gambling adverts and may affect moderation in the Netherlands.
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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.
Reportedly, VNLOK is suing Meta over illegal gambling advertising. The Dutch trade association’s action concerns adverts on Facebook and Instagram.
KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen called for a co-ordinated European response to illegal gambling, saying the Netherlands cannot tackle cross-border operators alone. He said half of every euro gambled by Dutch consumers goes to the illegal market, costing more than €500m a year in potential tax income.
Dutch lawmakers urged the government to strengthen enforcement against illegal gambling during a parliamentary committee debate. State Secretary for Justice KT van Bruggen said the government is developing legislation for DNS blocking, with a public consultation expected in early 2027. She also said officials are engaging with Meta and Google over illegal gambling advertisements and will receive reports every six months.
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.