Meta has replaced its country-specific whitelist with a single global blacklist that bans gambling ads in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia and Azerbaijan. From now on, advertisers, not Meta, must ensure their campaigns meet all local regulations.
Key Changes: From Whitelist to Self-Certification
- Legal accountability lands on advertisers. Meta reiterates that it will not police regional compliance; any breach is the buyer’s burden.
- One permit, multiple regions. A single approval can now cover several markets as long as the operator is licensed wherever the ads appear.
Easy Authorization via Meta Business Suite
Gambling brands running real-money campaigns can file directly through Meta Business Suite. The streamlined flow replaces the older, slower manual process and should speed up go-live timelines for licensed operators.
Rules for Social Casino Ads
Virtual-chip casinos remain age-gated at 18+. If those chips can be bought or sold for cash, the advertiser must secure full gambling authorization.
Influencer Marketing: Extra Conditions
Creators may promote betting content only when acting on behalf of an approved advertiser. Meta stresses that under-18 targeting is strictly prohibited, regardless of format or platform.
Platform Position and Industry Impact
By offloading compliance and clarifying its blacklist, Meta aligns with global ad standards while distancing itself from legal pitfalls. The move simplifies campaign planning for licensed operators yet closes the door on grey-market expansion in the newly banned territories.
Source: https://transparency.meta.com/en-us/policies/ad-standards/restricted-goods-services/gambling-games/
