The Dutch online gambling association VNLOK has announced its intention to file a lawsuit against Meta in the EU, accusing the company of failing to effectively block illegal gambling advertisements on its platforms.
The organisation, which represents market operators including Entain, bet365 and MGM Resorts, said on June 22 that it will also submit a complaint to the European Commission alongside legal proceedings, citing the widespread distribution of unlawful gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram.
The move comes amid increased scrutiny of the illegal gambling market in the Netherlands, where player channelisation into the regulated sector has declined following a sweeping advertising ban, higher taxes and tighter regulation.
VNLOK believes Meta’s measures are systematically insufficient, with vulnerable groups — including young people — being heavily exposed to illegal gambling advertising.
VNLOK chairman Björn Fuchs said: “This is not only an economic problem, but above all a major risk to consumer protection. Illegal providers do not adhere to rules regarding addiction prevention and actively target vulnerable groups such as minors and problem gamblers.”
The trade association claims Meta has for a long time avoided engaging in meaningful dialogue on the issue.
It also notes that the size of the black market is now roughly comparable to the legal sector, with spending on unlicensed platforms estimated at more than €1 billion ($1.08 billion) annually.
“Like trying to mop up water with the tap still running”
According to VNLOK, Facebook and Instagram are key drivers of the illegal market’s growth. Research shows that more than 70,000 gambling ads targeting Dutch users were identified in Q4 2025.
More than 95% of this advertising came from illegal operators, generating tens of millions of monthly impressions among Dutch audiences.
VNLOK also claims that Meta removes fewer than 5% of such ads, relying mainly on after-the-fact user reporting tools — an approach the association says is inadequate given the scale of the issue.
VNLOK stated: “That is like trying to mop up water with the tap still running. Illegal providers keep returning with new advertisements. The Gaming Authority submits thousands of reports of illegal gambling advertisements to Meta every month.
“Large online platforms are legally obliged to continue investing in the detection, monitoring, and restriction of illegal gambling advertisements targeting Dutch consumers.
“As long as Meta fails to meet its legal obligation, the illegal market will continue to grow and vulnerable players will be exposed to significant risks.”
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