Gambling Club denounces: Illegal casinos persist in massive advertising on Facebook
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17 Jan 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Since 1 July 2023, Belgium has introduced a strict ban on advertising for gambling. This measure aims to protect citizens from the risks associated with gambling addiction and to limit the exposure of the public, particularly minors, to potentially dangerous incentives.
However, despite this regulation, a proliferation of advertisements for unauthorized online casinos has been observed on Facebook. These ads, often tempting, specifically target Belgian users, thus circumventing the bans in force.
Impersonation of well-known brands
Even more worryingly, some of these illegal casinos do not hesitate to impersonate well-established brands to deceive players. Advertisements using the name and logo of Bwin or Casino de Middelkerke have been reported, redirecting users to unauthorized sites. These fraudulent practices exploit the trust that players place in these reputable brands, thus exposing them to potentially dangerous platforms.
Some of these fake Bwin advertisements redirect the player to an application to install. The interface resembles the Play Store, but when you click to install the application, you are redirected to another platform.
The dangers of illegal gambling sites
Venturing onto unregulated gambling sites carries many risks. In addition to the lack of guarantees regarding the fairness of the games, these platforms may not ensure the protection of users’ personal data. In addition, winnings obtained on these illegal sites are not always guaranteed, leaving players without recourse in the event of a dispute.
Marc, a regular player from the Liège region, testifies:
“I clicked on a Facebook ad that appeared to come from Bwin. After making a deposit, I realized that the site was a scam. I lost my money and my personal data is now compromised.”
Measures taken by the Belgian authorities
Faced with this worrying situation, the Gaming Commission has strengthened measures to combat illegal advertising related to games of chance. The Royal Decree of 1 July 2023 explicitly prohibits advertising spots on television, radio, in cinemas, as well as advertisements on websites, digital channels and social media platforms. Despite these restrictions, the effectiveness of the application of these measures on international platforms such as Facebook remains a major challenge.
Facebook, one of the main social networks used in Belgium, is at the heart of this problem. The platform has strict policies regarding the promotion of gambling, requiring advertisers to comply with local laws and obtain the necessary authorizations. However, detecting and removing illegal advertisements remains complex, due to the sophistication of the methods used by fraudulent advertisers.
Safety tips for players
To protect yourself from these scams, Gambling Club advises you to follow these recommendations:
- Check the legality of the site: Before registering or making a deposit, you must ensure that the site has the appropriate licenses issued by the Belgian Gaming Commission.
- Avoid overly tempting offers: Excessively generous promotions can be a sign of fraud, as bonuses and gifts are limited by Belgian law.
- Check the blacklist: If in doubt, you can check if the site is on the blacklist of illegal sites.
The persistence of advertisements for illegal casinos on Facebook, despite the bans in place, highlights the need for increased vigilance on the part of players and enhanced collaboration between authorities and digital platforms to protect citizens from the dangers associated with unregulated gambling.