Meta Responds to Criticism by Cracking Down on Illegal Gambling Advertisements

Meta Faces Ongoing Criticism for Illegal Gambling Ads

Meta, the parent company of popular social media platforms, has come under heavy scrutiny from regulators and the media for allowing illegal gambling advertisements to circulate on its sites. Organizations like the UK Gambling Commission and investigative journalism outlets have repeatedly criticized Meta for being too lenient on fraudulent gambling ads, particularly on Facebook and Instagram.

Company Moves to Strengthen Controls Against Fraudulent Campaigns

While Meta was previously hesitant to reduce these advertisements due to their revenue value, recent developments show a shift in approach. The company has announced stricter measures to eliminate illegal gambling ads, reflecting a commitment to improve the user experience and comply with regulatory expectations.

In 2025 alone, Meta removed over 159 million deceptive advertisements and took down approximately 10.9 million related accounts across its social networks. This effort forms part of a wider industry movement aimed at curbing scams and fraudulent activities that diminish platform integrity.

A Stronger International Collaboration to Combat Fraud

The UK Gambling Commission has criticized Meta for not acting decisively enough, emphasizing that the company should be able to identify and block illegal advertisements effectively. In response, Meta has joined an international coalition led by the United Nations that brings together major technology companies to combat online fraud collaboratively.

Recently, Meta participated in the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Global Fraud Summit in Vienna, alongside industry leaders such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, OpenAI, and Pinterest. This partnership aims to foster cross-border cooperation to eliminate fraudulent practices on digital platforms.

Meta’s Efforts to Move Past Previous Controversies

Earlier reports accused Meta of profiting from allowing fraudulent ads, especially those originating from certain regions like China. However, the company’s current actions illustrate a clear intent to address past shortcomings and detach itself from previous controversies by adopting aggressive measures against scams.