A new form of illegal gambling advertising has surfaced on social media. The Keurmerk Verantwoorde Affiliates (KVA) has reported that players are being lured into Telegram groups with thousands of members and referred to illegal gambling providers in these groups.
The purpose of the advertisement is to appeal to players who have already lost money, suggesting there’s a way to “recoup” losses or even double them. Of course, this is simply a ploy to get players to gamble at illegal casinos. Always remember: If it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
New form of illegal social media advertising
Both Facebook and Instagram are being used to mislead players and lead them to illegal casinos. For example, there’s a Facebook page run by a Dutch person, or at least that’s what they want people to believe, that specifically targets players who have recently lost money. The way to rectify a previous situation is supposedly by visiting illegal gambling sites.
This page, called “Daan Vermeer,” directs people to Telegram groups promoting illegal gambling sites. Telegram shows that this fake channel now has 6.000 members. You could simply sign up for free and enjoy “a solution.” In reality, it encourages people to gamble more.
Therefore, don’t always pay attention to a specific name, because realize that many more pages can pop up with ever-changing names. Scammers are constantly expanding these kinds of deceptive practices. That’s precisely why good reporting is essential to nip such practices in the bud.
KVA has posted an article on LinkedIn
The KVA has decided to post an article on LinkedIn to clarify that this type of advertising is in conflict with Dutch regulations.
To clarify this, the KVA indicates which rules from the“Beleidsregel Verantwoord Spelen” are being violated:
- Article 2.2 – Careful and balanced: instead of channeling players towards legal providers, players are actually directed towards illegal providers.
- Article 2.3 – Excessive participation: gambling is presented as a solution to financial problems.
- Article 2.4 – Misleading: an unrealistic picture is given of the possibility of recovering losses.
- Article 2.5 – Vulnerable groups: the advertisements explicitly target players who have already lost at least €100, a clear targeting of vulnerable players.
- Article 2.6 – Tailoring to addiction risk: the message reinforces risk factors and actually encourages continued gambling.
KVA shares a screenshot of an advertisement with an accompanying warning on Instagram
The KVA warns against the method used in this regard.
“Beware of misleading Instagram ads claiming you can easily recover your gambling losses. These ads often link to Telegram channels that direct players to illegal gambling sites. The ‘solution’ offered there is actually even more gambling with these unlicensed providers.”
Who is behind the name “Daan Vermeer”?
In 2023, the page “Daan Vermeer” was created as “Maddie Macha Vinny.” The name was then changed to “Daan Vermeer” in July 2025. Facebook page transparency indicates that this page is managed by people from the United States and Ukraine.
It’s no surprise that the profile picture used can also be found on another page, also created on November 3, 2023. This page recently underwent a makeover but isn’t yet advertising. The page’s administrator is reportedly from Malaysia.
“Daan Vermeer” has been advertising on Facebook since July 2025 and is said to have placed dozens of ads. Some of these have been removed because they violate Facebook and Instagram’s policies.
What does Meta say about deleted ads?
Of course, these ads violate Meta’s rules and content was removed after their technology or teams determined the rules were being violated.
Meta responds to this problem as follows:
“Advertisements may not promote products, services, plans, or offers that use identified deceptive or misleading practices, including practices designed to extort money or personal information from people.”
But why aren’t they simply more transparent and decisive in their actions to completely ban these practices? Because it’s unclear to anyone why a Facebook page can continue advertising when previous ads have just been removed due to infringement.
More than 400.000 Dutch people were reached with these advertisements
Overall, these placed advertisements have reached over 400.000 Dutch people since July 2025. One of the main target groups they were trying to reach appears to be young adults.
All ads were targeted at Dutch people over the age of eighteen. The KVA cited an example where an ad reached 44.000 Dutch people, and 15.315 of those were between the ages of 18 and 24.
Eight advertisements are currently circulating under the name “Daan Vermeer”
Currently, eight ads are reportedly still active under the “Daan Vermeer” page. So far, these have reached 13.000 Dutch people, and they are still promoting the Telegram groups that the KVA has warned about.
You might wonder: Who’s paying for these ads? It’s supposedly a company called Gemina SRL. There is indeed an Italian company with this name, but it has nothing to do with the gambling industry. This name is therefore being abused by these advertisers.
KVA explicitly warns consumers about this type of advertisements
The KVA urges everyone to be wary of these misleading advertisements, which are frequently distributed on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. They claim to offer a solution if you’ve previously lost money, but instead simply redirect you to illegal gambling sites.
Illegal providers ignore any regulations. They not only risk losing money, but also risk losing any profits. The risk of identity theft is also significant. These types of websites are known for their aggressive practices and share personal data with untrustworthy parties in distant countries. Even for those with questions, there’s no customer service available.
Therefore, always use licensed providers who must comply with all regulations, including those regarding advertising. You can also always contact customer service. Therefore, never respond to illegal advertisements and always consider your own safety first.