If you’ve ever placed gambling ads on Facebook, you may have encountered situations where your ad materials were banned and noticed that this social media platform’s restrictions can be quite stringent. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a basic understanding of Facebook’s gambling policies.

This article from Vaxelabs explains Facebook’s advertising policies for advertisers, influencers, and business entities, making it easier and smoother for you to use the platform.

What does Meta consider as gambling ads?

According to Meta’s official policies, online gambling refers to any game or product designed to earn real money, including cash, digital currencies, and cryptocurrencies.

Products identified as gambling ads by Facebook:

Any content related to online gambling activities, including:

Sports betting, casinos, lotteries, slot machines, bingo games, poker, and sweepstakes.
Games involving money.
These games may require players to invest money to start playing or offer monetary rewards for winning.
Landing pages containing online gambling ads.
Even if you can’t play directly on the page, as long as it contains promotional content for online gambling, it is considered a gambling ad.
Games with a trial period or that require payment afterward.
For anyone promoting their iGaming services on Facebook, understanding Meta’s gambling policies and definitions is essential.

iGaming Facebook Advertising Policies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Affiliate Marketers

First off, let’s address the most common question: “Is gambling on Facebook illegal?” The answer is no, it’s not illegal; it’s perfectly legal if you adhere to the rules we’ll outline below.

Step 1: Conduct Preliminary Research via GEO

After selecting a promotional campaign and intending to run it on Facebook, check the list of geographical locations provided by Meta—this list is regularly updated with countries/regions where gambling ads are prohibited. Even if an operator has obtained a license, you cannot run ads in these countries/regions.

Geographical locations not supported by Meta:

Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Egypt
Hong Kong
Indonesia
South Korea
Kyrgyzstan
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Pakistan
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
Please note that even if online gambling promotion is permitted in a region, you still need to check the legal age and other restrictions in that area.

Important Reminder: The target audience’s age must not be below 18. If the laws of the target country/region specify a different age limit, such as 21, you must also comply with that country/region’s legal requirements.

Step 2: Obtain Official Meta Authorization

This is the most crucial step for any affiliate marketer aiming to run gambling ads on Facebook. You need to obtain authorization from Meta to place such ads.

How to Obtain Meta Authorization:

• Submit an application through Meta Business Suite in the “Permissions and Verification” section.
• Provide details such as your role as an affiliate marketer, the campaign operator you’re working with, and the geographical locations you intend to target.
• Meta will verify this authorization before your campaign begins.
• If you’re running ads using an operator’s account, you don’t need to go through the authorization process. However, if you’re using a personal account, this step is mandatory.

For a more detailed official guide, please click here to view.

Step 3: Upload All Required Documents

According to Facebook’s advertising policies, affiliate marketers must provide several documents to prove their relationship with the operator.

Documents Required for Gambling Ad Placement:

• The operator’s official license;
• Signed documents proving the establishment of a cooperative relationship with the licensed operator by both parties;
• Operator company data (name, legal name, and website);
• Landing page URL;
  Facebook will only approve the ad if the operator holds an official license in the region where they operate.

Step 4. Review Your Ad Content (Text and Images).

Facebook has always imposed stringent restrictions on gambling ads due to the prevalence of prohibited text and images. Let’s examine what to avoid to prevent account suspension.

• Do not trust promises of quick riches or guaranteed winnings that result in cash payouts.
• Ad content should be truthful and reliable, free from false rewards or fraudulent information, and not misleading.
• Do not use creative materials that imply gambling can easily bring success and wealth to users.
  Meta will also evaluate the landing page, which must comply with the aforementioned standards.

Step 5: Take Responsibility for Your Ads.

Remember, even if your operator is licensed, once you use your own Facebook account, the responsibility for adhering to the rules falls entirely on you.

If an affiliate violates platform rules, Meta has the right to revoke or deny their authorization. Violations may lead to the suspension of the advertising account or even a permanent ban across all Meta platforms.

Facebook Gambling Ad Policy FAQs