Meta, parent company of social media sites Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, is once again under scrutiny in Asia after investigations found that its platforms continue to show online gambling advertisements in countries where these promotions are restricted or banned.
Facebook is one of the most widely used social media platforms in the Philippines, and this issue has touched many Filipinos who use the site to access news and entertainment each day.
According to an analysis by nonprofit outlet Rest of World, Meta ran ads for online gambling websites or apps in at least 13 countries with local laws banning gambling ads, including the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. These ads direct users to casino-style apps and platforms, offering card games and slots.
The advertisements often highlight secure payments, referral rewards, fast withdrawals, and cashback bonuses. According to eSportsInsider’s analysis, these features are commonly associated with legitimate, regulated platforms in licensed markets.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has estimated that over 60% of online gambling operations in the country are illegal and unlicensed. Ronald Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, a digital rights group, told Rest of World that “most of the ads, specifically on Facebook, are coming from illegal online gambling operations.”
Digital Pinoys has flagged over 3000 websites to Meta, although only a small number have been taken down at the time of writing. Many of these ads only appear for a short period, running for a couple of hours, before being taken down. The pages advertised often use fake addresses.
The growth of online casinos across Asia indicates a growing demand for online entertainment and mobile gambling, despite local restrictions. In countries with a licensing framework, including the Philippines, Georgia, and Armenia, regulated platforms offer player protections and responsible gaming tools, while governments benefit from tax revenue.
India banned real-money online gambling, and advertising was banned in August 2025, but Rest of World found at least 140 active gambling ads in December. Malaysia has prohibited gambling since the 1950s, but there were still hundreds of briefly shown ads promoting slot-style casino apps. Thailand recorded more than 500 ads in a single day from a network of Thai-language pages, yet online gambling is illegal in the country.
Reuters investigations suggest that Meta has generated massive revenue globally from ads linked to scams and illegal gambling. Meta’s advertising policies say that gambling ads are prohibited in “unsupported markets” and that advertisers are responsible for complying with local laws, saying Meta is “not responsible for how authorized ad accounts comply with local gambling laws and regulations.”