Following reports of illegal lotteries on Facebook, The Netherlands’ gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has now stopped two illegal lotteries on Instagram with the help of the social media platform’s owner.
The KSA explained how illegal lotteries that occur on Facebook are reported, which mainly take place in Facebook groups. After an investigation, the gambling authority reports the case to the platform via its Gambling Regulatory Channel. The platform may remove the group once it reviews the case against its own guidelines.
The gambling authority added that recently, reports have also been about lotteries on Instagram and that these can be reported the same way as they would if they occurred on Facebook.
The KSA noted that it reported the Instagram pages ‘Vip lottery’ and ‘Winnacttiee’ to Facebook, adding that depending on the product to be won, up to €120 had to be paid to participate in these lotteries. In terms of a profit, an option of not choosing the price itself, but its value in cash instead, was available. These pages are no longer online.
The gambling authority stated that it acts against these types of lotteries since no supervision is possible with the providers not being licensed. It also wants to ensure participants can play games of chance safely and that they’re protected.
Organisers of illegal lotteries risk a large fine.
