Dutch bookmaker group takes Meta to court over rogue ads

Licensed operators claim social media giant fails to stop illegal gambling promotions.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 5 October 2026

Licensed gambling operators in the Netherlands are taking legal action against Meta. The trade association representing legal bookmakers summoned the tech giant to an Amsterdam court. They want stronger filters to block illegal betting adverts on Facebook and Instagram.

Unlicensed sites dominate feeds

Investigations by the association suggest that a vast majority of the gambling promotions seen on these platforms come from unlicensed operators. Legal bookmakers face strict advertising rules and heavy market restrictions. Rogue sites avoid these rules and use social media to reach the same players.

Testing European platform laws

This court battle tests the limits of the European Union Digital Services Act. The law requires very large online platforms to assess and reduce systemic risks. Meta removed only a small percentage of flagged ads in May and June according to the association.

Calls for heavy penalties

The legal challenge asks the court to order better prevention measures and impose daily fines for noncompliance. A separate complaint has also been sent to the European Commission. Regulators in other countries are watching these developments closely.

What it means for a bet

Punters should stick to licensed bookmakers because illegal sites advertising on social media lack proper consumer protections.

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