Meta Ads Bypassed Dutch Gambling Ban
A Dutch investigation found that illegal online casinos did more than advertise to gamblers on Meta, they deliberately targeted people registered with the national self‑exclusion system, CRUKS.
CRUKS blocks access to licensed operators for at least six months, and currently holds the details of about 100,000 individuals.
In late 2025 and early 2026, BNR discovered hundreds of Facebook and Instagram ads that promoted unlicensed gambling sites to individuals on the CRUKS register. Some of the ads criticised CRUKS for being government interference, while others praised foreign casinos for not complying with the Dutch register. Many used AI‑generated images and redirected users to ranking websites for operators without a local licence.
These campaigns could easily be found via Meta’s ad library, with account names such as ‘Zonder Cruks’ openly referencing evasion. As Meta generates revenue from every ad, the platform profited from these clearly illegal promotions.
After BNR approached those involved, one linked site removed illegal casino listings and switched to offering free slot games with no real stakes. Meta later deleted the ads and banned the associated accounts, stating that it enforces compliance with local laws.
However, the removals do not address the fundamental issue. CRUKS users are not ordinary gamblers, they have voluntarily excluded themselves because gambling has become harmful to them. Ads designed to bypass this protection undermine the system’s purpose.
Experts warn that these individuals are especially vulnerable. Stress or loneliness can weaken self‑control, and an ad offering an easy way back into betting can exploit a moment of impulse. These ads did more than promote unlicensed products — they were designed around the very safeguard that people were trying to escape.
