TLDR
- Dutch trade group VNLOK filed a lawsuit against Meta at the Amsterdam District Court on September 28.
- VNLOK says over 90% of gambling ads it reviewed on Facebook came from illegal sites.
- The group says Meta has broken its duties under the European Digital Services Act.
- Dutch lawmakers are voting on a motion that could let the Gaming Authority fine platforms that fail to remove illegal ads.
- VNLOK wants the court ruling to force platforms to stop illegal ads before they appear.
Dutch trade association VNLOK has taken Meta to the Amsterdam District Court. The group accuses the tech company of allowing illegal gambling ads to spread across Facebook and Instagram.
The lawsuit was filed on September 28. It follows months of warnings from the Dutch industry group about the problem.
VNLOK says its own studies found that over 90% of gambling ads reviewed on Facebook came from illegal sites. Only a small share of those ads were removed, and often too late to stop Dutch users from seeing them.
VNLOK Says Meta Did Not Cooperate
Chairman Björn Fuchs said the group had asked Meta many times to work on a lasting fix. He said there was 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.
The lawsuit asks the court to rule that Meta has broken its obligations under the European Digital Services Act. It also asks the court to force Meta to take stronger steps to block illegal gambling ads aimed at Dutch users.
VNLOK says the case is not against social media itself. Instead, it targets the way illegal operators use these platforms to reach consumers.
Fuchs said illegal gambling providers depend on large tech companies to find customers. “Illegal gambling providers can only reach Dutch consumers by using the infrastructure of large online platforms,” he said.
Lawmakers Prepare to Vote on New Motions
The court case comes as political pressure builds in The Hague. Lawmakers are considering several motions aimed at illegal gambling.
One motion would let the Gaming Authority fine platforms that fail to remove unlawful ads. VNLOK supports the proposal.
However, the group says the regulator should not wait for new laws before acting. “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.
Fuchs also said Meta is only one part of the problem. He said illegal operators move between platforms, search engines, and messaging apps 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,” he said.
VNLOK says the regulated online gambling market in the Netherlands depends on strong enforcement. It also depends on help from digital platforms, according to the group.
The group wants the court’s decision to set a precedent. It hopes the ruling will force companies like Meta to stop illegal ads before they 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.
Dutch lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the gambling motions on September 29, one day after the lawsuit was filed.
