TikTok banned Jim Curry, host of the Better Gaming Show podcast on ethical gambling and player safety, after he discussed lottery compliance. The platform's algorithms flagged the content as a gambling violation. Curry received a permanent ban that survived appeal, but the account was reinstated without explanation after he complained publicly on LinkedIn.
Meanwhile, TikTok hosts ads for unlicensed casinos including Stake and Rainbet, both blocked in the US and UK. TikTok's policy formally prohibits promotion of illegal operators, but content featuring these platforms racks up views without sanctions. Curry attributes this to watch time: such content keeps users on the platform longer, a key metric for social networks.
The problem extends beyond TikTok. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, earns around $16 billion annually from ads for fraudulent schemes and illegal services including gambling — roughly 10% of total revenue. Internal documents show Meta capped spending on fighting such content at 0.15% of revenue, or about $135 million out of $90 billion in the first half of 2025. One company manager wrote: "We will be careful, we have specific revenue constraints."
The UK Gambling Commission sent search engines 447,778 URLs of illegal operators in 2024. 287,961 were removed. Content creators bypass filters by avoiding direct gambling references and using veiled language. Guides exist for gaming TikTok's algorithms to place casino ads.
Meta announced an $18 billion settlement with 48 states and called on TikTok and Google to implement stricter controls. Curry remains sceptical: the black market will find new ways in, and moderation remains a secondary priority for platforms.
