2 hours Ago
The Scale of the Problem
The numbers behind this case are hard to ignore. Investigators reviewed more than 70,000 gambling-related ads running across Meta's platforms, and only around 5 percent were actually taken down. That means the overwhelming majority stayed live, continuing to reach Dutch users without any intervention. These ads were tied to unlicensed online casinos that ran aggressive mass marketing campaigns, using the images of globally recognized footballers to make their promotions look credible and trustworthy.
Why VNLOK Is Taking Meta to Court
VNLOK argues this is not just about celebrities having their images misused — it goes deeper than that. Illegal gambling ads hurt consumers who end up engaging with unregulated platforms, and they create an unfair playing field for licensed operators who follow the rules. The organization wants stricter enforcement and the removal of all unauthorized gambling content. Their core message is straightforward: platforms as large and resourceful as Meta cannot keep turning a blind eye while harmful, unlicensed promotions run freely across their networks.
