KSA Files Reports Against Thousands of Illegal Gambling Ads on Meta Sites in April

KSA Sends Thousands of Reports

Kansspelautoriteit said illegal gambling ads remain a big problem in the Netherlands. The regulator sent more than 4,600 reports to Meta during April.

Most ads appeared on Facebook and Instagram — according to the regulator’s update. Officials believe many ads came from casinos without Dutch gambling licences.

Some operators copied famous names and trusted company logos. Several ads also used Dutch athletes and popular brands. These methods may confuse users looking for legal gambling casinos.

KSA officials said social media ads reach many young users every day. Because of this, authorities want illegal ads removed much faster.

Concerns Grow About Younger Users

The latest action follows wider concern about gambling ads aimed at younger people. Dutch lawmakers banned untargeted gambling ads during reforms introduced in 2023. Current rules also ban ads targeting users younger than twenty-four years old. Nevertheless, recent research suggests some companies still break those rules.

Researchers reviewed 277 gambling ads inside Meta advertising records. They found 31 ads targeted users between eighteen and twenty-three years old. Online licence holders showed stronger compliance during the review period. Only a few reportedly broke Dutch advertising rules.

Offline licence holders showed weaker results — creating fresh concerns for regulators. Nearly thirty percent of reviewed ads reportedly breached age targeting rules.

Dutch Government Discusses New Rules

Earlier this year, Dutch coalition parties discussed a full online gambling advertising ban. Officials also explored limiting gambling licences across the market. The coalition agreement included several measures against illegal operators. Those plans included stronger player protection rules and tougher action against offshore casinos.

Main concerns from industry groups:

• A full ban could help illegal gambling markets grow faster.

• Licensed casinos may struggle reaching users through legal ads.

• Illegal operators could gain more attention through hidden promotions.

VNLOK warned stricter rules may create new market risks. Chairman Björn Fuchs said legal casinos still need public visibility against illegal competitors. Meanwhile, KSA appears ready to continue stronger enforcement this year. The regulator previously worked with Google and private companies during large reporting campaigns.