Google earns $20 million a year from advertising illegal online casinos
KVA Research Data
The Association of Responsible Affiliates (KVA) presented a study to Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), confirming that Google generates significant revenue from advertising illegal online casinos.
In February 2024, 85 advertising accounts promoting such services spent $1.6 million on ads. If this amount is extrapolated for a year, the expenses reach $20 million.
Advertiser Countries
According to the KVA study, over 90% of advertisers are companies from:
- India
- Ukraine
- Poland
- USA
Out of 85 advertising accounts, only one is registered in the Netherlands. This data confirms that most illegal operators operate from abroad.
How Does Google Profit from Illegal Advertising?
In 2022, CasinoNieuws.nl already published a study showing that advertisers pay more than $30 per acquired visitor through Google. Despite legal restrictions, the search giant continues to generate revenue from such advertisements.
Advertising Expenditure Range
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum expenditure | $4 |
| Maximum expenditure | $179,384 (spent by an advertiser from India) |
| Average reach of the largest advertiser | more than 10,000 clicks on ads |
Why Is This Important?
Advertising illegal online casinos poses risks to users, as such platforms often do not guarantee data security or fair payouts. Despite bans, Google continues to place such ads, earning millions of dollars from them.
Possible Measures
- Strengthen control over advertising content.
- Introduce strict sanctions for advertising platforms.
- Increase transparency of advertising data.
These measures will help reduce the spread of illegal gambling and limit the profits of those who violate the law.