How do I block gambling advertising on Social Media?

Some people find that they are more likely to gamble when they see gambling adverts, outside their normal routine.

You can use the tools on Social Media websites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to select the sort of advertising you wish to see (and those you don’t want to!) This is especially handy if you’re busy out and about and don’t want to be distracted.

We work with the social media sites to block adverts from being seen by anyone underage or vulnerable, so this advice is only relevant if you are over 18 and no longer want to see Ads which the platforms otherwise find you eligible for.

Facebook:

You can hide Ads by selecting the down arrow menu or the 'x' in the top right-hand corner of the sponsored post.  That means that once you’ve blocked an Ad, you won’t see it again. There is not yet a single button to block all adverts categorised as ‘gambling’ so you may need to do this to separate gambling companies or separate advertising campaigns by the same company.

In addition, you can adjust your ads preferences to see Ads that are more relevant to you. To find more information regarding 'can I block Ads' on Facebook and 'how can I adjust my Ad preferences', please view this article from their Help Center. Your settings can be found here.

Instagram:

To hide an Ad you don’t want to see again, click the three dots next to the Ad on your newsfeed, then select ‘Hide Ad’. You can then select from a list of options about why you don’t like the Ad, which will help Instagram decide what types of Ads to show in the future.

Use your ‘Instagram Ad Topic Preferences’ to see fewer Ads based on certain topics.

You can also adjust your device settings to opt out of seeing Ads based on non-Facebook Company Products (e.g. based on other sites and apps that you have visited). This will be in your device’s settings menu.  You will still see Ads which Instagram has selected for you, or where you appear on a company’s list directly shared with Instagram with appropriate permissions. 

Twitter:

You can block tweets from individual gambling companies.  Click the down arrow next to the post or the profile, and look for the option to "Block @..."

If the tweet is an advert, you can in the same menu select "I don't like this Ad" and Twitter will learn, over time, not to show adverts which it categorises as similar.

You can disconnect other apps which may connect to your Twitter account on the ‘Your Twitter Data’ page here.  Additionally, on your ‘interests’ page here you can de-select any interests which might encourage gambling-related Ads to show, particularly if you have expressed an interest in ‘gambling’ or sports betting.

Website banners:

You may want to consider using Ad Blocker software on your device.  Many website banners are targeted based on past activity on the internet (for example showing you items you have previously seen in online stores) so you may also see fewer gambling adverts if you visit fewer gambling websites over time.

Alternatively, you can change your settings in your browser to turn off personalised Ads. This varies by browser. For Google Chrome you can find out more here.

Responsible Gambling Advice:

Please note this advice is not comprehensive as social media sites may change their operating policies from time to time. There is also no guarantee that information and settings will be carried over between devices (e.g. shared devices between family members). If you are worried about problem gambling, you may find it appropriate to exclude yourself from gambling directly. You can find out more about account closures, Self-Exclusions and the organisations in place to help you here.