The UK Gambling Commission has escalated its criticism of Big Tech’s role in illegal gambling. The Commission’s Executive Director, Tim Miller, recently accused Meta of misleading regulators about its ability to detect and prevent unlawful casino advertising on its platforms.
Speaking at ICE Barcelona 2026, Miller described illegal gambling not just as a regulatory enforcement challenge, but as a commercial and ethical test for the global gambling supply chain, from affiliates and hosting providers to social media giants.
“The licensed industry, consumers and taxpayers are all under threat from illegal operators. In this battle, there can be no room for organisations that want a foot in both camps,” said Miller during his speech.
Illegal Gambling Utilise an Existing Structure
Miller recapped the Commission’s recent research into illegal gambling, published over the past year, which showed that users of unlicensed sites include self-excluded players, crypto-focused gamblers and consumers drawn in accidentally.
He stressed that illegal gambling undermines the Commission’s core mission to regulate licensed casinos and reduce gambling-related harm. In his words, that task is made significantly harder when illegal operators are promoted via the same infrastructure used by licensed firms.
Regulators worldwide are increasingly identifying suppliers, affiliates, advertisers and technology companies that serve both markets simultaneously. According to Miller, this blurs what should be “clear blue water” between regulated and unregulated gambling.
“If you are using the same suppliers, such as web hosting companies, as the majority of illegal websites, then you are helping to build the illegal market. And if you are marketing your products through platforms that also promote illegal online casinos, then you are helping to build the illegal market,” remarked the executive director.
Meta in the Spotlight
Miller criticised Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, heavily. He said the company routinely hosts advertisements for illegal online casinos that target UK consumers, specifically sites advertising themselves as “not on GamStop”.
GamStop is the UK’s multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, used by users who have taken action to protect themselves from gambling harm. However, he said that ads promoting sites that bypass the scheme are among the most alarming examples of illegal marketing.
Meta has previously claimed that it does not tolerate illegal gambling advertising and removes such ads when notified. Miller rejected that explanation outright. He remarked that the approach implies that the company doesn’t know about those ads unless they are reported. However, he doesn’t believe that.
He pointed to Meta’s own searchable advertising library, which allows anyone to view live ads by keyword.
“You or I can search for ‘not on GamStop’ and see for ourselves how many are currently paying Meta to advertise on their platforms. If we can find them, then so can Meta. They simply choose not to look,” claimed Miller.
‘Warm words’ but Little Action
Miller said the Gambling Commission has contacted Meta directly on the subject, but has seen little progress other than “a few warm words”. He expressed disbelief at Meta’s suggestion that regulators should deploy their own AI tools to identify illegal ads and report them back to the platform.
He stated he would be very surprised if Meta, as one of the world’s largest tech companies, was incapable of proactively using its own keyword facilities.
Miller added that the company appeared content to continue taking money from criminals and scammers until someone reports it.
He also noted that the issue is not unique to the UK, with regulators around the world being forced to spend public money policing platforms that already possess the tools to act for themselves.
Picking a Side
Throughout his speech, Miller often returned to the key theme: the need for organisations to decide where they stand.
“Whose side are you on?” he asked, addressing platforms such as Meta directly.
“The consumer and users of your platforms, many of whom are seeking to escape gambling harm? Or the criminals and con artists who are using your platforms to prey on vulnerable people?”
He also contested licensed operators to use their commercial leverage to “commercially strangle” suppliers that support illegal gambling, via more decisive due diligence, procurement standards and contractual controls.
More Powers, Shared Responsibility
Miller welcomed the UK government’s recent commitment of £26 million in additional funding for the Commission and forthcoming tactics to suspend IP addresses and domain names linked to illegal gambling.
However, he stressed that enforcement alone will not be enough.
“No one actor in this space can win this battle alone. Government, regulators and industry should no longer tolerate anyone benefiting from the legitimate industry while actively undermining it,” insisted Miller.
Miller’s speech took a confrontational tone, especially toward Big Tech, and highlighted tough questions about global platforms like Meta, whose corporate structure gives CEO Mark Zuckerberg ultimate control and limits outside accountability.
