Labels Zuck’s ad library ‘a window into criminality’ and the Social Network as ‘happy to turn a blind eye’

The head of the UK’s Gambling Commission has accused social media giant Meta of lying about its ability to proactively detect operators of illegal casinos advertising on its services.

Speaking at gaming conference ICE 2026 in Barcelona yesterday, the commission’s executive director Tim Miller discussed the regulator’s attempts to understand illegal gambling, which is of interest as his agency’s purpose is to oversee licensed gambling and reduce any harms it causes.

That job is made harder if illegal gambling operations offer an alternative. Miller therefore called for licensed operators to ensure “clear blue water” between their services and others.

He said the waters are instead muddy, because regulators around the world “are increasingly identifying suppliers, affiliates, advertisers, tech companies and others that work with licensed operators but who are also providing the same services to the illegal market.”

He then took aim at tech companies which ...