KSA reports more than 4,600 illegal gambling ads to Meta in April

As first reported by iGaming Business, the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) submitted more than 4,600 reports to Meta in April 2026 over gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram.

The reports concerned unlicensed operators targeting Dutch consumers through social media. In the Netherlands, online gambling is only legal through licensed operators, but KSA said illegal providers continue to promote their sites on major platforms.

Some ads used familiar names to appear more credible. According to the regulator, advertisers used the names of well-known Dutch athletes and logos linked to established brands, making it harder for consumers to recognise whether a site was licensed.

KSA said tackling illegal online gambling remains one of its priorities. The authority has been working with public bodies, platform representatives and private-sector partners to limit misleading gambling promotion online.

The regulator did not say whether Meta removed any of the reported ads.

The figure still shows the scale of the problem. Illegal operators are not only using offshore websites or direct traffic channels. They are also using mainstream social platforms to reach local players.

The update comes as gambling advertising remains under pressure in the Netherlands. Dutch rules already restrict how licensed operators can market their services, especially where advertising could reach younger audiences.

For the Dutch market, the case shows where enforcement is moving next: not only against illegal operators, but also toward the platforms and ad systems that help them reach consumers.