Malaysian government fires at Facebook over gambling adverts
Summary
The Malaysian government has publicly criticised Meta (Facebook) for allowing widespread black‑market gambling adverts on its platforms and will hold formal talks with the company on 22 September. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has called out Meta for not blocking credit cards tied to illegal operators and for failing to stop adverts that are illegal in Malaysia.
Key Points
- Malaysia has arranged a crunch meeting with Meta on 22 September to confront the spread of illegal gambling adverts on Facebook.
- Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil says Meta should block credit cards used to pay for illegal ads but has refused to do so.
- An All India Gaming Federation report highlights similar problems in India: 1.6 billion visits to unlicensed betting platforms over three months, driven in part by social media marketing.
- Illegal operators use mirroring sites, mule accounts, UPI, cryptocurrencies and international wallets to evade blocking and enforcement.
- Social media and referral channels are major traffic sources for illicit sites, underlining the limits of blocking alone as a countermeasure.
- iGaming Expert suggests Malaysia’s action could spur wider tightening of platform responsibilities across Asia.
Content summary
Malaysia’s complaints focus on two failings: the sheer accessibility of black‑market gambling ads on Meta platforms and Meta’s refusal to take financial countermeasures such as blocking credit cards known to fund illegal ads. The government argues platforms are being misused for profit and crime and seeks concrete action from Meta in an upcoming meeting.
The article links the Malaysian case to broader regional issues, citing an All India Gaming Federation report that documents extensive traffic to unlicensed sites and describes sophisticated payment and evasion networks — from mule accounts to crypto — that make simple blocking ineffective. The report also highlights the role of social media and influencers in driving users to illicit platforms.
Context and relevance
This dispute sits at the intersection of platform governance, advertising policy and online gambling regulation. Governments across Asia are increasingly frustrated with tech platforms they say enable illicit markets; Malaysia’s push could prompt tighter enforcement demands, new regulatory expectations for ad platforms, and closer scrutiny of payment flows used by illegal operators.
Why should I read this
Because if you work in payments, compliance, affiliate marketing or platform policy, this could change the rules of the game. Malaysia’s move signals regulators want platforms to be more proactive — not just remove posts, but cut off the money. Quick, relevant and worth a skim if you want to stay ahead of regional enforcement trends.
Author take
Punchy: Malaysia is calling Meta out — and it isn’t just a local spat. If platforms keep treating enforcement as optional, regulators will escalate. Industry stakeholders should watch this meeting: outcomes could shift ad‑policy expectations and enforcement tactics across Asia.
Source
Source: https://igamingexpert.com/news/affiliates/meta-and-malaysia-ad-talks-showdown/