Meta allows illegal casino adverts to run
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29 Apr 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes
Adverts for an illegal online casino are circulating widely on Facebook and Instagram, reaching over a million users in the Netherlands. Despite repeated reports and previous sanctions against the operator, these adverts are not considered a breach of Meta’s rules.
A massive presence that raises questions
For several weeks, adverts for Foxy Gold, an illegal casino, have been circulating freely on Facebook and Instagram. The figures are staggering. In April alone, adverts linked to Foxy Gold exceeded one million impressions among Dutch users. This massive reach was made possible by the existence of no fewer than eleven active ad campaigns specifically targeting this market.
These campaigns appear as standard gambling adverts, redirecting users directly to the casino’s website. Unlike other practices observed in the past — such as the use of fake news articles or fictitious apps — no sophisticated attempts at concealment are evident here.
A surprising response from Meta
In response to reports from users, Meta’s reaction is somewhat surprising. According to the feedback received, the adverts in question do not breach the platform’s rules.
Only one instance of removal was recorded in early April, for an unspecified breach of advertising rules. But even then, the advert in question remained online for more than four weeks before being taken down.
Behind the adverts lies an opaque structure
An analysis of the transparency information provided by Meta allows us to partially trace the chain of responsibility. The page used to display the adverts, titled Foxy Gold, is classified under the slot machines category and is managed from the Philippines.
However, the true identity of the operators remains unclear. The name Hyper Tech consistently appears as the payer for the advertising campaigns, though it is not possible to determine its exact role.
According to several industry sources, the Foxy Gold site is reportedly operated by a Costa Rica-based company, EOD Code SRL. This company is no stranger to the authorities. It has already been sanctioned by the Dutch gambling regulator for the illegal operation of another site, Instant Casino. Despite this sanction, the company is reported to have continued its activities.
The Foxy Gold case serves as a reminder that, in the digital world, rules are sometimes difficult to enforce.
An unstoppable wave of illegal gambling adverts in Belgium
In Belgium, this is no longer just an isolated incident. A recent investigation reveals that, in a single month, nearly 60,000 adverts for illegal casinos were posted on Facebook via more than 3,000 different pages. These adverts link to unauthorised platforms operating without a licence issued by the Gaming Commission.
Since 2023, gambling advertising has been strictly regulated, and in many cases outright banned. Legal operators, facing severe restrictions, have virtually disappeared from social media, leaving a space largely exploited by clandestine operators.
Despite repeated reports (nearly 8,000 illegal advertisements reported by the GC in 2025), the removed content is quickly replaced by new material.