Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK is going to sue Meta and is filing a complaint with the European Commission regarding the large-scale dissemination of illegal gambling advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. According to VNLOK, the tech company’s measures are structurally inadequate, while vulnerable groups – including young people – are being reached en masse by the illegal gambling advertisements.

Meta has for quite some time refused to enter into a substantive dialogue with the Dutch trade association of legal online gambling providers. VNLOK now announces that it is taking both legal action and involving the European Commission.

Illegal Gambling Market Continues to Grow

The illegal gambling market in the Netherlands is now approximately as large as the legal market. It is estimated that over 1 billion euros is involved in illegal online gambling annually.

“This is not only an economic problem, but above all a major risk to consumer protection. Illegal providers do not adhere to rules regarding addiction prevention and actively target vulnerable groups such as minors and problem gamblers,” said VNLOK Chairman Björn Fuchs.

Facebook and Instagram Flooded with Illegal Gambling Advertisements

Facebook and Instagram play a central role in the growth of the illegal market. VNLOK has been conducting research into advertisements for illegal gambling sites for some time. This research shows that in the last quarter of 2025, an average of over 70,000 gambling advertisements targeting the Netherlands were visible on Meta platforms. More than 95% of this gambling promotion originated from illegal providers, generating tens of millions of monthly impressions among Dutch consumers. Less than 5% of these advertisements were removed by Meta. Consequently, illegal gambling providers continue to reach Dutch consumers on a large scale via Meta platforms.

VNLOK is highly critical of Meta’s approach. The tech company relies primarily on retroactive reporting via standard user tools. “That is like trying to mop up water with the tap still running,” says VNLOK. “Illegal providers keep returning with new advertisements. The Gaming Authority submits thousands of reports of illegal gambling advertisements to Meta every month. Large online platforms are legally obliged to continue investing in the detection, monitoring, and restriction of illegal gambling advertisements targeting Dutch consumers. As long as Meta fails to meet its legal obligation, the illegal market will continue to grow and vulnerable players will be exposed to significant risks. That is why we are now taking legal action as well as taking the matter to Brussels.”

According to VNLOK, the European Digital Services Act (DSA) obliges very large online platforms such as Meta to take adequate measures to limit the risks of illegal content on their platform, especially if it occurs structurally and on a large scale. Given the large number of illegal gambling advertisements, this system falls structurally short at Meta.

According to VNLOK, the situation has escalated further because Meta refuses to enter into a substantive dialogue with the trade association.

It is not the first time Meta has had to answer to a Dutch court. In 2025 and 2026, Meta was already ordered by the District Court and the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to remedy a structural violation of the DSA. “Dutch judges have frequently taken a critical stance towards Meta,” states VNLOK, “So it is possible. And without this constituting a disproportionate burden.”

Summons and complaint in Brussels

Because negotiations are yielding no results, VNLOK is now taking two drastic steps:

• VNLOK requests a declaration from the judge that Meta has violated the DSA and is directly liable for the illegal content; an order compelling Meta to comply with the DSA, for example by using better systems to prevent and detect problems; and a penalty payment for each day that Meta fails to comply with this order.

• VNLOK has notified the European Commission and requests an investigation, enforcement, and possible sanctions due to the violation of the DSA.

Political Pressure is Mounting

The move comes just before a debate in the House of Representatives on online gambling and consumer protection. Attention to illegal gambling advertisements on major platforms is also growing in Brussels. MEPs had previously warned that Meta plays a key role in the dissemination of these advertisements.

While VNLOK currently focuses on Meta, it points out that Google, banks, and game providers must also do more to stop the activities of illegal gambling companies, including advertising.

The post Dutch Gambling Trade Association Sues Meta Over Illegal Gambling Ads appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has launched a new set of gambling risk limits built around a single rule: no more than 2% of monthly net income, 4 gambling days per month and 2 recurring game types. Bonusetu.com examines the new framework and why its real-world success depends on the bank ID identification already standard in the country’s registration-free casinos.

The “2-4-2” Rule and the Player’s Credit Line

THL packaged the new limits as a player’s credit line (pelaajan luottorivi), a memorable “2-4-2” mnemonic released alongside a self-assessment gambling test (rahapelitesti) that lets a player gauge their own relationship with gambling. The thresholds are deliberately simple: keep monthly spend under 2% of net income, gamble on no more than 4 days a month, and stick to no more than 2 recurring game types. The guidance lands against a backdrop where 70% of Finns reported gambling in the past 12 months.

The numbers are not arbitrary. The framework adapts Canada’s Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines, reworked for Finnish conditions between 2022 and 2024. Where Canada anchors its limit to 1% of gross household income, THL chose 2% of net personal income to better match how Finnish households actually think about money.

According to the THL’s assessment, the introduction of the licensing system will shift the focus of the gambling system from preventing and reducing harms to emphasising gambling revenue; for this reason, they felt it was best to launch the 2-4-2 rule right now.

“A risk limit only works if the casino knows exactly who is sitting behind the screen. THL hands players the 2-4-2 rule, but the rule has no teeth unless the operator can verify identity, age, and play history in real time. Bank ID does that at the door. Registration-free does not mean anonymous, it means the player is identified before the first euro is staked, not after,” said Tommi Korhonen, acting CEO of Bonusetu.com.

Why a Limit Needs to Know the Player

A spending cap is only as strong as a casino’s ability to recognise who is actually playing. That recognition runs on strong identification (vahva tunnistautuminen) through bank credentials, the technology that lets a player log in with Nordea, OP or S-Pankki details instead of filling out a signup form. The “no registration” label describes the missing form, not a missing identity check.

Verified age: Bank ID confirms a player is over 18 before the first spin, closing a gap that form-based signups leave open to minors.

Recognised identity: One verified identity per player turns play-history limits like 2-4-2 into something a system can enforce, not just a slogan a player is asked to remember.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Helsinki, Bonusetu.com is a leading Finnish comparison platform for online casinos.

The post Finland Sets Casino Gambling Risk Limits at 2% of Income, 4 Days, 2 Game Types appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

A Pioneering Premium Platform Connecting Organizations with Elite Compliance Professionals, Legal Operations Experts, and Trusted Industry Vendors

Europe — HIPTHER proudly announces the launch of HALLO (Highly Aligned Leaders in Legal Operations), a pioneering platform redefining how organizations discover, connect with, and engage compliance expertise.

Embodying the tagline “The Standard in Compliance Expertise,” HALLO combines a premium professional directory, industry intelligence hub, community platform, and visibility ecosystem into a single destination for compliance professionals and the organizations that rely on them.

At a time when regulation is becoming more complex across gaming, fintech, payments, AI, cybersecurity, digital identity, AML, blockchain, and emerging technologies, the need for trusted expertise has never been greater. HALLO addresses that challenge by creating a structured environment where qualified professionals, legal operations specialists, compliance leaders, and service providers can be discovered, evaluated, and engaged with confidence.

Beyond a Directory

HALLO is built as more than a professional directory.

It serves as a dedicated ecosystem for compliance excellence, enabling organizations to identify the right expertise while giving professionals a platform to showcase their experience, achievements, thought leadership, and industry contributions.

Memberships Tailored for Professionals and Organizations

HALLO offers flexible participation options designed to support everyone from independent compliance professionals to large organizations building regulatory, legal, and compliance capabilities.

There is an Individual Professional Membership available as well as an Enterprise Membership for teams and organizations seeking expanded access, visibility, and networking opportunities. All memberships include a 14-day free trial.

Free Expert Profiles, Premium Visibility Opportunities

One of HALLO’s core principles is making compliance expertise discoverable.

Compliance professionals can join HALLO free of charge as Experts, creating publicly visible profiles that showcase their experience, areas of specialization, professional achievements, and industry expertise.

Whether joining as an independent expert, a growing consultancy, or an established enterprise, HALLO provides multiple pathways to build credibility, expand reach, and engage with a highly targeted audience of compliance, legal, regulatory, and operational decision-makers.

Introducing HALLO Resources: A Living Compliance Intelligence Hub

Alongside its directory and community functions, HALLO launches with one of its most powerful features: HALLO Resources.

The Resources section serves as a continuously updated compliance intelligence center featuring more than 17,000 regulatory and compliance-focused articles, bringing together regulatory updates, jurisdictional developments, enforcement news, legal analysis, compliance guidance, and industry intelligence from across the HIPTHER media network.

Designed to support both practitioners and decision-makers, HALLO Resources offers:

• Daily updates with continuously refreshed content
• Powerful search functionality by topic, jurisdiction, and keyword
• Open access with no login required
• Coverage spanning gaming, fintech, AI, payments, AML, digital policy, cybersecurity, and regulatory affairs

By combining expert discovery with practical intelligence, HALLO is a daily destination for compliance professionals.

Advertising & Thought Leadership

HALLO also introduces premium visibility opportunities through the Wayseers Booklet, the annual compliance handbook distributed at HIPTHER conferences across Europe.

The publication reaches more than 1,500 professionals across gaming, fintech, AI, compliance, and regulatory sectors, creating a unique opportunity for organizations to showcase expertise, promote services, and contribute thought leadership to the wider compliance community.

Advertising opportunities range from directory listings to half-page, full-page, and double-page placements through Standard, Premium, and Platinum packages.

Furthermore, HALLO serves as a trusted source of compliance expertise for HIPTHER’s media and conference initiatives, creating additional opportunities for members to contribute thought leadership, industry insights, and expert perspectives.

Building the Future of Compliance Collaboration

With regulatory complexity increasing across industries and jurisdictions, HALLO arrives at a critical moment for businesses navigating compliance, governance, risk management, legal operations, and regulatory change.

Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated about HALLO: “Navigating the modern regulatory landscape requires more than just standard legal advice; it demands highly specialized, agile compliance expertise. With the launch of HALLO, we are bridging the critical gap between organizations facing complex global standards and the elite professionals who can guide them through. By combining an active directory with a massive intelligence hub, we are setting a new standard for compliance collaboration and empowering businesses to move forward with absolute confidence.”

Join HALLO

Compliance professionals can create their Expert profiles free of charge.

Organizations can explore Professional and Enterprise memberships through a 14-day free trial.

For more information, visit: https://hallocompliance.net/

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