Meta Criticized Over Illegal Gambling Ads
- The UK Gambling Commission has accused Meta of allowing illegal online casino promotions to appear across its platforms.
- Regulators argue that Meta failed to act despite clear signs of rule‑breaking advertisers.
- Meta rejects the claims and says it enforces strict policies and cooperates with authorities.
Regulator Raises Concerns About Illegal Ads
Britain’s Gambling Commission has accused Meta of overlooking illegal online gambling promotions appearing on Facebook and Instagram. The regulator said users were likely to encounter such ads even with minimal time spent on the platforms. Many of the promoted sites reportedly bypassed GamStop, the UK’s mandatory self‑exclusion program for licensed operators. Tim Miller, the Commission’s executive director, argued that Meta’s claim of ignorance was not credible.
Meta responded by stating that it maintains strict advertising rules for gambling‑related content. Company representatives said any violations are removed once identified and that they work closely with regulators to address flagged material. The firm emphasized its efforts to improve automated detection tools designed to catch problematic ads earlier. It also encouraged continued cooperation with the Commission to protect users and legitimate advertisers.
Evidence Highlighted by the Commission
Miller pointed to Meta’s own searchable ad library as evidence that the company could easily detect non‑compliant advertisers. The library reportedly includes entries where operators openly state they are “Not on GamStop,” indicating they fall outside the UK’s regulated framework. Regulators argued that if they can locate these ads, Meta should be able to do the same. Miller suggested that the company chooses not to investigate proactively.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between digital platforms and regulators over responsibility for harmful or illegal advertising. Online gambling remains a tightly controlled sector in the UK, where operators must meet strict licensing and consumer‑protection requirements. Platforms hosting ads are expected to ensure compliance, particularly when automated systems are used to target users. The Commission’s comments suggest it believes Meta’s current measures fall short of these expectations.
GamStop, the self‑exclusion system referenced in the dispute, has been mandatory for all UK‑licensed online gambling operators since 2020. The program allows individuals to block themselves from all regulated gambling sites with a single registration. According to publicly available data, more than 400,000 people have enrolled in GamStop since its launch, making it one of the largest national self‑exclusion schemes in the world.
