VNLOK Drags Meta to Amsterdam Court Over Gambling Ads

Dutch trade association VNLOK has taken Meta to the Amsterdam District Court, accusing the tech giant of allowing illegal gambling ads to spread across Facebook and Instagram.

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The lawsuit, filed on 28 September, follows months of warnings from the Dutch industry group and comes just as lawmakers prepare to vote on a motion that could give the Gaming Authority power to fine platforms that fail to act.

VNLOK says Meta’s current efforts fall short, with its own studies showing that over 90% of gambling ads reviewed on Facebook came from illegal sites. Only a fraction were removed, and often too late to stop exposure to Dutch users. 

Meta failed to ‘structurally cooperate’

Chairman Björn Fuchs said the group had repeatedly asked Meta to cooperate on a lasting fix but saw little progress. “We have repeatedly pointed out the extent of the problem to Meta and asked it to structurally cooperate in finding a solution. That has not yielded sufficient results. That is why we are now submitting the case to the Dutch court,” he said. 

Fuchs added that parliament’s focus on platform responsibility sends a clear message, “Illegal gambling providers can only reach Dutch consumers by using the infrastructure of large online platforms.” 

The lawsuit asks the court to rule that Meta has breached its obligations under the European Digital Services Act and to compel it to take stronger preventive measures against illegal gambling ads aimed at Dutch users. VNLOK insists the case is not against social media itself but against the way illegal operators use it to reach consumers. 

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Political pressure and regulatory calls

The timing of the case coincides with growing political pressure in The Hague. Lawmakers are set to vote tomorrow (Sep 29) on several motions targeting illegal gambling, including one that would let the Gaming Authority fine platforms that fail to remove unlawful ads.

VNLOK supports the proposal but says the regulator should not wait for new laws to act. “The regulator must more emphatically call parties that play a role in reaching Dutch consumers with illegal offers to account for their responsibility,” Fuchs said. 

He also warned that Meta is only part of a wider problem. Illegal operators, he said, shift between platforms, search engines, and messaging channels to stay visible. 

“Meta is now the party we are taking legal action against, but the problem is broader. If an illegal provider is removed via one platform, the same provider will reappear via another channel. Then we will continue to lag behind the facts.” 

VNLOK argues that the Netherlands’ regulated online gambling market depends on strong enforcement and cooperation from digital platforms. The group wants the court’s decision to set a precedent that forces companies like Meta to act before illegal ads appear, not after. “Politicians can set clear rules, the Gaming Authority can enforce and platforms can use their systems to stop illegal offers. Those three have to come together now,” Fuchs said. 

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