UK Gambling Commission Accuses Meta of Ignoring Illegal Gambling Ads
The UK Gambling Commission accuses Meta of allowing illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram, despite regulations requiring local licenses.Summary
The UK Gambling Commission has accused Meta Platforms of enabling illegal gambling operators to advertise on Facebook and Instagram, targeting UK users without proper licensing. Executive Director Tim Miller highlighted that the commission routinely discovers these illegal operators through Meta’s own public ad library, calling it “a window into criminality.” Miller criticized Meta’s passive response, stating they suggest regulators use their own AI to flag ads instead of proactively addressing the issue. Ads promoting sites with keywords like “not on Gamstop” – a self-exclusion program all licensed UK operators must use – were specifically cited as red flags. The problem extends beyond the UK, with similar issues identified in countries like India, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. Despite the concerns, Wall Street analysts maintain a Strong Buy consensus rating on META stock, with an average price target suggesting significant upside potential.
(Source：Markets Insider)