Britain’s Gambling Commission has accused Meta Platforms of failing to act against illegal online gambling advertisements appearing on its platforms, alleging the company continues to profit from unlawful activity.
Speaking at the ICE Barcelona trade show, Gambling Commission executive director Tim Miller said illegal casino ads are widely visible on Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. He argued that many of these ads promote gambling websites that are not registered with the UK’s GamStop self-exclusion scheme, which allows users to block themselves from online gambling services.
Miller rejected Meta’s claim that it only becomes aware of such ads after being notified, calling that assertion “simply false.” He said Meta’s own searchable advertising library clearly shows advertisers declaring their sites are “Not on GamStop,” adding that if regulators can identify them, Meta can as well.
“It could leave you with the impression they are quite happy to turn a blind eye and continue taking money from criminals and scammers,” Miller said, accusing the company of choosing not to look.
In response, Meta said it enforces strict advertising policies on gambling and gaming and removes ads that violate its rules once identified. A spokesperson said the company is working closely with the Gambling Commission to remove flagged ads and improve proactive detection tools, urging continued cooperation to protect users and legitimate advertisers.
The dispute highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of how major social media platforms monitor and control advertising linked to illegal activities.