The government of the Netherlands has announced plans to potentially introduce a blanket ban on gambling advertisements after investigations found that the country’s...
Kansspelautoriteit targets Meta over illegal gambling ads
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has filed more than 4,600 reports targeting Meta’s illegal gambling advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
The regulator published the news on May 7, 2026, stating that the fight against illegal gambling is a top priority for the KSA, with a strong focus on the marketing campaigns of gambling operators that use social media platforms to target users.
The KSA wrote:
“Illegal gambling providers place many advertisements on social media. They use names and logos of well-known Dutch athletes and major brands to enhance their credibility. It is often difficult for consumers to determine whether a gambling provider holds a license. To protect consumers, the KSA is therefore making a strong effort to combat online advertising by illegal providers.”
To address the problem, the KSA held a meeting with relevant companies and organizations to discuss how their trademarks can be protected.
The issue of combating illegal gambling ads is part of KSA’s broader strategy of working with public authorities, platform representatives, and private companies to remove such content, as in 2025, the regulator found around 50,000 illegal gambling ads and launched measures to decrease the volume of prohibited content from Google search results.
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kannspelautoritet (KSA), has ordered Holland Casino Online and Vbet to ban own-goal betting options, stressing the risks connected to...
