ChatGPT displays adverts for illegal casinos despite its rules
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12 Sep 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dutch users of ChatGPT have been exposed to an advert indirectly linking to online casinos that are not licensed in the Netherlands. This is surprising, given that OpenAI’s advertising rules exclude gambling from the permitted categories.
An advert appears following a search for casinos
The discovery was made by CasinoNieuws.nl. The specialist media outlet asked ChatGPT about the best online casinos available in the Netherlands in order to observe the results presented to users.
The assistant’s response did not mention any specific establishments. Instead, it recommended prioritising sites holding a licence issued by the Dutch gambling authority.
ChatGPT also advised comparing platforms based on several criteria, including their reliability, game selection, ease of use, customer service and promotional offers.
However, a far more problematic element appeared beneath this response and its sources: an advert. The promotional message stated:
‘For a comparison of online casinos in the Netherlands, here is one option.’
A link leads to casinos without a Dutch licence
According to findings reported by CasinoNieuws.nl, the advert displayed in ChatGPT highlighted a page entitled ‘Top Online Casino 2026’, which was linked to Playtika Holding in the advert preview.
The use of the name Playtika may have been intentional, as the company is known as a major developer of mobile games. However, there is no evidence to establish with certainty why this name was used.
The main issue arises after the user clicks on the link. According to CasinoNieuws.nl, the page redirects users, via a detour, to an affiliate site dedicated to online casinos that are illegal in the Netherlands. The site, Throwballs.com, features a selection of the ‘best online casinos in the Netherlands’. It contains links to operators that do not hold the required Dutch licence. These establishments also highlight substantial promotional bonuses that cannot be offered in the Netherlands.
OpenAI’s advertising rules, however, exclude gambling
The advertising rules set out by OpenAI are intended to prevent this type of promotion.
Several categories are listed as incompatible with advertising on the platform. This includes content relating to weapons and terrorism, as well as discussions concerning gambling, including online gambling.
According to CasinoNieuws.nl, companies in the gambling sector seeking to place adverts directly with OpenAI receive an email rejection stating that they are not permitted to advertise due to these rules.
ChatGPT, however, recommends licensed operators
There is a particularly striking contrast between the content generated by ChatGPT and the advert displayed immediately afterwards.
In the test carried out by CasinoNieuws.nl, the chatbot explicitly directed the user towards operators holding a licence from the relevant Dutch authority. The advert placed beneath this response, however, could lead to platforms that do not hold this licence.