Meta ad rejected · Online Gambling and Games
Why was my Meta gambling or gaming ad rejected?
Meta treats any online product where something of monetary value is part of both the entry and the prize as gambling, and only authorized ad accounts can advertise it, to people 18 and over, outside unsupported markets. Check whether your product counts, get authorization in Meta Business Suite with your license, then fix targeting and resubmit.
What usually triggers it
- Promoting online betting, casino games, poker, bingo, lotteries, raffles, fantasy sports, sweepstakes or skill game tournaments from an ad account that is not authorized.“Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets on tonight’s match.”
- Games where people pay to enter or pay for an advantage, and can win something of monetary value, including cash or crypto.“Pay $2 per round, top the leaderboard and win $500.”
- Affiliate, comparison or aggregator ads whose landing page promotes online gambling, even when nobody can gamble on that page.“Compare this month’s best casino sign-up bonuses.”
- Targeting people under 18, or any of Meta’s unsupported gambling markets, such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam.“A sports betting app campaign set to worldwide, ages 18+.”
- Advertising in a new country for the first time without declaring it in the Authorizations and Verifications tab.“An account authorized for one country starts a campaign in a second country.”
- Social casino or free-to-play game ads that suggest players can win money, coins with real value, gifts or prizes.“Spin free slots and win real cash prizes every day.”
- Creators or partners publishing gambling partnership ads themselves without their own authorization.“A creator runs a betting promo from their own account, tagging the operator.”
How to fix the ad
- Check whether your product counts. If something of monetary value is part of both the way in and the prize, it is online gambling or gaming in Meta’s terms. Free-to-play games with no prize of value, land-based casinos with no online promotion, and state lotteries run directly by the advertiser do not need authorization.
- If it counts, request authorization in the Authorizations and Verifications tab in Meta Business Suite. You choose your role (operator, aggregator, affiliate or agent), the territories and gaming types, give the legal business name that matches your license, list your URLs and ad accounts, and upload your licenses or other proof that the activity is lawful.
- Authorization is granted to specific ad account IDs. To use another ad account in the same business portfolio, extend the authorization to it through the same tab.
- Before you target a new country or a new gaming type, declare it in the Authorizations and Verifications tab. Keep your licenses current, because Meta’s authorization depends on an active gambling license.
- Set targeting to 18 and over, or higher where local law sets a higher gambling age, and remove every unsupported market from the ad set.
- For social casino games, remove any promise of money or prizes. Meta recommends a disclaimer that success in the game does not mean success at real-money gambling, and noting in-app purchases if there are any.
Risky wording, and safer wording
Illustrative examples to show the difference. Always check the full ad, image and landing page too.
| Risky | Safer |
|---|---|
| Spin free slots and win real cash every day. | Free-to-play slots for fun. No real money or prizes. Contains in-app purchases. |
| Play our social casino and turn your coins into rewards. | Collect coins as you play. Coins have no cash value. |
| Campaign for an authorized sportsbook set to ages 18+, worldwide. | Campaign for an authorized sportsbook limited to the countries it is licensed and authorized for, at each country’s legal gambling age. |
| A creator posts a betting partnership ad from their own account without authorization. | The authorized operator publishes the partnership ad and tags the creator, or the creator applies for authorization as an affiliate first. |
| Visit our land-based casino. Play online too with our new app. | Visit our casino for live music and dining this weekend. |
If your ad is already rejected
- Read the reason in Meta Business Support Home (formerly Account Quality) or in the rejection notice, and check whether it is about authorization, targeting or the creative.
- If the ad account is not authorized, apply in the Authorizations and Verifications tab, or extend an existing authorization to that account, before you resubmit. You can track the application status in the same tab.
- If the targeting or creative is the problem, edit the ad in Ads Manager. An edited ad goes back into review automatically. Do not delete the rejected ad if you might request a review.
- If you believe the ad was wrongly rejected, for example a free-to-play game with no prizes of value, request another review in Business Support Home. Meta aims to decide within 48 hours, and if it is rejected again you cannot request another review for that ad.
- Do not swap the landing page or move the campaign to an unauthorized account to get it through. Editing or deleting a rejected ad does not remove the violation, and severe or repeated violations can restrict the account.
Check your next ad before you upload it
Paste the copy and add the image or video. The free checker scores the rejection risk, points to the exact words at fault and the Meta policy behind each one, and suggests a safer version. It estimates risk; it isn't a decision from Meta.
Likely to be rejected. Fix the flagged lines before you upload.
This supplement ad combines a personal-attribute callout, a specific weight-loss result, guaranteed results, clickbait and a URL shortener, so it is very likely to be rejected.
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
https://bit.ly/slim-offer
6 issues found · tap a highlight to jump to it
“Are you struggling with belly fat?” · primary text
The ad asserts a personal characteristic about the viewer by addressing them directly about a body condition.
Fix: Our gummies are designed to support a healthy metabolism.
“helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!!” · primary text
A specific weight-loss amount within a short timeframe is an exaggerated, unrealistic result, and supplement ads must target 18+.
Fix: Remove the specific result; use a general statement such as 'Part of a balanced routine for healthy weight management.'
“GUARANTEED RESULTS” · headline
Guaranteed results are a prohibited claim for health and weight-loss products.
Fix: Use 'Start your wellness routine today' or remove the claim entirely.
“Doctors hate this one trick.” · primary text
This is classic clickbait, and the triple exclamation marks add to the sensational tone.
Fix: Replace with 'Learn how our gummies fit into a healthy routine.'
“See the before and after pics.” · primary text
Before-and-after comparisons for weight loss are high risk and draw rejection.
Fix: Remove the before-and-after reference and focus on the product's ingredients.
“https://bit.ly/slim-offer” · landing page
URL shorteners hide the true destination and are high risk, and can lead to account-level enforcement.
Fix: Use the full, direct landing page URL on the brand's own domain.
Safer version
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
Meet our gummies, designed to support a healthy metabolism. Easy to add to your day and made to fit into a balanced routine for healthy weight management. Learn how they fit into a healthy routine.
Start your wellness routine today
Also change: Link: replace the bit.ly shortener with the full, direct URL on your own brand domain, and make sure the landing page has no before-and-after photos, guaranteed-result claims or specific weight-loss numbers. Creative: remove any before-and-after images and any overlay text about kilos lost. Show the product or lifestyle shots instead, with overlay text like "Support your healthy routine". Set ad targeting to 18+.
Questions
What does Meta count as online gambling and games?
Any product or service where anything of monetary value is part of both the method of entry and the prize, including cash and digital currencies like Bitcoin. That covers betting, casino games, poker, bingo, lotteries, raffles, fantasy sports, sweepstakes and skill game tournaments.
How do I get authorization for gambling ads?
Apply in the Authorizations and Verifications tab in Meta Business Suite and upload your gambling licenses or other proof the activity is lawful where you will advertise. Meta reviews the application and emails you the decision.
Do social casino games need authorization?
No, as long as there is no chance to win money, coins, gifts or anything of monetary value, the ads target people 18 and over, and they do not target the countries Meta lists as unsupported.
Do affiliate and comparison sites need authorization?
Yes. Meta’s policy covers ads whose landing page promotes online gambling or games, even if people cannot gamble on that page, and affiliates apply in the same tab.
Which countries can’t I run gambling ads in?
Meta lists Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam as unsupported. Check the live policy before each campaign, as the list can change.
Can I advertise a prize draw or giveaway?
Prize promotions that only require buying a product at its usual retail price do not need authorization, as long as gambling is not the main business of the advertiser or any featured brand. A paid entry for a prize of value is treated as gambling.
Meta's official pages
- Online Gambling and Games (Meta Transparency Center)
- About Meta's Online Gambling and Games advertising policy (Meta Business Help Center)
- How to apply for permission to promote online gambling or games (Meta Business Help Center)
- How to troubleshoot a rejected ad (Meta Business Help Center)
Ad Account Shield is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Meta.
Related guides
- Crypto adsWhich crypto ads need Meta’s written permission, which licenses count, and what is allowed without it.
- Landing page problemsBroken pages, ad-to-page mismatches, redirects, pop-ups and risky page content: why Meta rejects the ad and how to fix the page.
- Misleading claimsPricing, endorsements or promises in the ad could mislead people for money.