TLDR Dutch trade group VNLOK is suing Meta and filing an EU complaint over illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram Research found around 70,000 gambling ads per quarter targeted Dutch users, with over 95% from unlicensed operators Meta removed fewer than 5% of flagged ads, according to VNLOK The illegal Dutch gambling market is now estimated at over €1 billion annually, roughly equal to the legal market Meta faces similar legal challenges in California, Australia, the UK, Brazil, and Malaysia
Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK has taken legal action against Meta, alleging the tech giant has failed to stop illegal gambling ads from running on Facebook and Instagram. The group also filed a formal complaint with the European Commission.
VNLOK represents licensed online gambling operators in the Netherlands. It says Meta has repeatedly ignored warnings about unlicensed gambling promotions flooding its platforms.
The Scale of the Problem
The association’s research found that in the last quarter of 2025, about 70,000 gambling ads targeting Dutch users appeared on Meta platforms every quarter. More than 95% of those ads were from unlicensed operators. Meta removed fewer than 5% of them.
VNLOK Chairman Björn Fuchs said this goes beyond a business dispute. He pointed to risks for vulnerable groups, including minors and people with gambling addictions. Unlicensed operators, he said, do not follow rules around addiction prevention.
The illegal gambling market in the Netherlands has now grown to an estimated €1 billion ($1.15 billion) in annual wagers. That puts it roughly on par with the fully regulated sector.
VNLOK says Meta’s current approach relies mainly on users reporting ads after they appear. The group argues this does not meet the standard required under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which obliges large platforms to actively limit the spread of illegal