VNLOK has also sought a declaration of liability & has asked the European Commission to investigate Meta separately.
The hit
Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK has summoned Meta before the Amsterdam court, seeking a ruling that Meta is failing to meet its EU Digital Services Act duties on illegal gambling adverts. VNLOK says more than 90% of the Facebook gambling ads it examined came from illegal sites, a finding it says is not a measure of every gambling advert on Meta’s platforms.
Why it matters
The case tests whether a platform’s DSA duty to assess & mitigate systemic risk goes further than removing reported ads one by one. If VNLOK wins, Meta could face a Dutch court order & daily penalties, with direct implications for licensed operators competing in the Dutch market. Licensed operators face market rules & advertising restrictions, while unlicensed rivals may still seek access to the same audiences through social platforms.
The record
| Court summons filed | Monday 28 September, Amsterdam court (VNLOK) |
|---|---|
| Meta ad removal rate | 11% in May, 15% in June (VNLOK) |
| Other EU action | Italy’s AGCOM issued enforcement decision against Meta, December 2023 |
What happens next
Watch the Amsterdam court proceedings & the European Commission’s response to VNLOK’s complaint for any ruling or order on Meta’s ad-screening duties.
Sources: VNLOK takes Meta to court over illegal gambling adverts – CasinoBeats
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