Indonesia – A probe by global news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) has uncovered dozens of illegal gambling promotions disguised as legitimate ads across Meta platforms in Indonesia.
In a report released to news sites, AFP said gambling promoters are using deceptive marketing tactics to reach Indonesian users across Meta platforms, despite the company’s policies and a government crackdown on the illegal practice.
According to the investigation, dozens of paid gambling adverts were presented as innocuous content to bypass Meta’s ban. Posts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads appeared to promote video games or health treatments but instead redirected users to betting websites.
“It’s become really disturbing,” said Zed, a 32-year-old Indonesian gamer who encountered the ads on Instagram.
“I suspect their target is people who like playing games; therefore, children can also see such advertisements,” added Zed, who withheld her real name for privacy reasons.
Another social media user, a 24-year-old who asked to be identified as Moli, said she repeatedly reports such ads on Instagram, but they continue to reappear.
According to AFP, online and offline gambling are illegal in Indonesia, yet billions of dollars still circulate through the sector annually. Authorities say they have removed more than 5.7 million pieces of gambling-related online content over the past eight years. Police have also strengthened enforcement, including the arrest of at least 85 influencers last year for promoting online betting.
Meta could face government sanctions if it fails to address the violations. The company did not respond to AFP’s requests for comment, although nearly two dozen advertisements AFP submitted as samples were subsequently removed.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said it routinely asks social media platforms to take down gambling content and issues warning letters when those requests are ignored.
“Continued inaction will result in a third warning letter sent to the platform, which carries additional penalties and may lead to access termination,” Alexander Sabar, director general for digital space supervision, told AFP.
In October, the ministry temporarily suspended TikTok’s operating licence after the platform refused to provide data linked to the alleged monetisation of live activities from accounts suspected of online gambling.
AFP also asked whether the ministry would summon Meta following the findings. Sabar said the ministry maintains regular communication with social media platforms and frequently raises concerns about gambling adverts. The ministry “urges all digital platforms to strengthen their ad detection and moderation systems in accordance with Indonesian laws and regulations,” he told AFP on November 12.
“Should repeated violations be found and left unaddressed, we will take enforcement in line with the applicable regulations.”
Between September and November, AFP identified dozens of active Indonesian gambling ads in the Meta Ad Library, the company’s public database for paid promotions. Some ads offered tips for “how to lower diabetes”, while others promoted supposed health benefits of various fruits.
AFP found one account that ran 49 gambling ads under the title “Pomegranate: The Exotic Red Fruit Rich in Benefits”. The Indonesian caption appeared harmless but redirected users to a betting website claiming new registrants could “directly win”.
The Facebook page listed its location as Hanoi, though AFP could not independently confirm the operation’s base. The page’s transparency details showed multiple administrators.
AFP said it reached out to several such accounts but received no replies. The agency works in 26 languages with Meta’s fact-checking program, including in Asia, Latin America, and the European Union.
