Gambling Data is Leaking

In a disturbing revelation that casts a long shadow over the online gambling industry, a recent investigation has uncovered a widespread practice of gambling websites secretly sharing user data with Facebook's parent company, Meta. This clandestine data transfer, happening without explicit user consent, raises serious concerns about privacy violations and potential breaches of data protection laws.

An investigation by The Observer revealed that over 150 UK gambling websites were using a hidden tracking tool, the Meta Pixel, to extract and transmit visitor data to Meta. This data, which includes details of webpages visited and buttons clicked, is then used to profile individuals as gamblers, paving the way for targeted Facebook advertising from casinos and betting sites.

The sheer scale of this practice is alarming. Popular gambling platforms like Hollywoodbets, Sporting Index, Lottoland, and Bwin were among those implicated in the data sharing. Of the tested websites, 52 were found to be directly sharing data via Meta Pixel without obtaining explicit user consent. Crucially, this data transfer often occurred automatically upon webpage loading, before users even had the opportunity to accept or decline data usage.

The consequences of this covert data collection are significant. One reporter, who explicitly stated they had never consented to marketing data usage, found themselves bombarded with gambling advertisements. In a single browsing session, they encountered ads from 49 different brands, including those from companies not directly involved in the illicit data sharing, but who were utilizing Meta Pixel within accepted rules.

Data privacy expert Wolfie Christl condemned the practice, stating, "Sharing data with Meta is highly problematic, even with consent, but doing so without explicit informed consent shows a blatant disregard for the law. Meta is complicit and must be held accountable."

This is not the first instance of gambling sites being accused of unlawfully selling user data, fueling ongoing calls for a comprehensive investigation into the targeting of gamblers and the implementation of stronger protective measures.

​I guess we’ll expect to hear about the upcoming legal action.

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