Britain’s gambling watchdog states that Meta Platforms Inc. is deliberately overlooking illegal gambling advertisements running on Facebook and Instagram.
The Gambling Commission has been examining Meta’s public ad library and discovering operators without proper licenses who are targeting UK users. Tim Miller, the regulator’s executive director, discussed the issue during a speech at the ICE gaming conference in Barcelona on Monday.
Regulator Calls the Situation a Window into Criminality
Miller characterized the situation as a window into criminal activity. He stated that if the commission can identify these illegal advertisements, Meta should also be able to, but the company simply chooses not to actively search for them.
Meta has not yet responded to requests for comment. The company’s own policies stipulate that gambling businesses must possess valid licenses to advertise in the markets they intend to reach.
The UK Gambling Commission is among numerous regulators worldwide intensifying efforts against illegal gambling operations. These unlicensed sites target local customers while evading local regulations and consumer protections. British authorities have successfully taken down hundreds of thousands of websites linked to unlicensed gambling operations and issued cease-and-desist orders, but this remains a continuous challenge.
Miller explained that advertisements from illegal operators harm vulnerable individuals while benefiting criminals and fraudsters. Unlicensed gambling sites do not contribute taxes, and their customers face an increased risk of experiencing fraudulent practices.
The commission specifically searched for ads containing the phrase “not on Gamstop.” This phrase refers to a British service designed to assist problem gamblers in blocking themselves from accessing gaming websites. Every licensed operator in the UK is mandated to collaborate with Gamstop and prevent registered users from participating.
Meta Suggests Regulator Use AI Tools to Find Violations
Miller mentioned that Meta advised the Gambling Commission to utilize artificial intelligence tools to identify and report illegal advertisements. The company committed to removing such ads once they were notified.
Miller expressed that he would be highly surprised if Meta, as one of the world's leading technology companies, lacked the capability to employ its own keyword filtering systems to halt illegal gambling ads. He suggested that this situation creates the impression that the company is quite content to ignore the issue and continue profiting from criminals and scammers until a complaint is formally lodged.
An earlier investigation by Rest of World revealed that illegal gambling advertisements are prevalent on Meta platforms in countries where they are prohibited, including India, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.