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Meta (Facebook, Instagram) Implements Massive Restrictions on Gambling Ads

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Publish Date: Jul 16, 2025

Fact checked by: Sara Jane Gamelli

Meta, the company behind social media giants Facebook and Instagram, is introducing new restrictions on advertisements for real-money gambling on its platforms.

Now, any ads featuring real-money gaming will have to go through the "Permissions and Verifications" section within the Business Suite.

With this move, all gambling categories, including iGaming, sports betting, poker, and more, will face issues.

There is one notable exception, though: social casinos that offer completely free-to-play games with no monetary stake.

Stricter Documentation and Influencer Guidelines

Advertisers must submit paperwork, including gambling licenses and certifications of compliance with state laws, in the states where they intend to run the ad.

Advertisers will also need to complete the following:

State their ad role with proof
Company name
Screenshots of their sites
Ad account rosters
All paperwork must be in English

All cases will be reviewed by a human at Meta.

For influencers and creators who get involved, the rules can vary.

If a creator promotes a gambling ad, they must become an affiliate, obtain Meta's approval, and have a signed contract. However, if a gambling operator mentions a creator in an ad, no immediate action is necessary.

Legislative Push for Responsible Gambling Standards

With these new restrictions and guidelines, this falls in line with a push to raise the standards for responsible gambling advertising. The company has a rule banning targeting anyone under 18, including sweeps casinos.

This campaign supports international campaigns that emphasize transparency and player safety.

In Canada, for example, there are provincial regulations, and now, there's an effort for federal unification that is currently ongoing. This could result in massive changes to advertising in the country.

Additionally, states such as New Jersey and New York are introducing legislation.

In New York, lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would require sportsbooks to prominently display responsible gambling resources on their mobile apps and websites. These include cool-off periods, exclusion lists, and bet history.

There are also to be automatic reminders sent to players regarding deposit and/or loss limits.

In New Jersey, a law was recently passed to prohibit sports betting advertisements on college and university campuses.

Will Meta's updates be a sign of things to come via legislation? We'll see what happens next in New York and elsewhere in the United States and Canada. Looking for the latest Sweeps News? Visit our Ballislife Play section.

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