Dutch Gambling Ads on Social Media Raise Concerns
Licensed gambling operators in the Netherlands are facing fresh criticism after research found that some ads may have reached young adults on social media.
According to Phys.org, researcher Dr Leon Y. Xiao used Meta’s advertising library to review gambling ads shown in the country. One flagged ad came from state-owned Holland Casino and appeared on Facebook in early 2025.
The data showed that, in less than a week, the ad was viewed by 7,426 men and 9,704 women aged 18 to 24. This age group is treated as vulnerable under Dutch gambling rules.
Another example involved an ad using the popular “Get Ready With Me” make-up trend. The ad carried the logo of online casino WinnItt, a brand owned by TOTO Online BV, which is part of Nederlandse Loterij.
Dutch gambling law says operators should avoid targeting people aged 18 to 24 with gambling marketing on social media. The rule applies to both online and land-based operators.
Although the reported cases were described as minority examples, they still create reputational problems for the licensed gambling sector. The issue comes at a difficult time, as the Netherlands is already dealing with concerns over black market gambling and tighter political scrutiny.
Dutch officials are also working on reforms to the Remote Gaming Act. At the same time, Holland Casino has faced questions over consumer protection after self-excluded players were reportedly sent marketing material.
The case adds more pressure on licensed operators and regulators to prove that player protection remains a priority.
