Step 1 — Turn off Gambling in Special Topics

1. Open the Facebook or Instagram app → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Settings
2. Tap Accounts Center → Ad preferences
3. Tap Ad topics → Special topics
4. Find Gambling and toggle it to "See less"

Step 2 — Block gambling keywords

1. From the same Ad topics page, use the search bar at the top
2. Type gambling-related keywords one at a time and mark each as "See Less":

Suggested keywords: Gambling, Casino, Slots, Jackpot, Roulette, Blackjack, Sports Betting, Poker, Lottery, Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Bet365

Tip: These settings apply to both Facebook and Instagram since they share Meta's Accounts Center. One set of changes covers both platforms.

Step 3 — Remove gambling shortcuts from your sidebar

1. On desktop Facebook, look for the "Your shortcuts" panel in the left sidebar (where slot/casino apps tend to live).
2. Hover over each gambling shortcut (Caesars Slots, Cashman Casino, etc.). A small edit icon or X will appear on the right side of the row.
3. Click it and choose "Remove from shortcuts" or "Hide".
4. If the icon doesn't show, click the three-dot menu next to "Your shortcuts" → Edit shortcuts → uncheck the ones you want gone.

Step 4 — Disconnect old gambling apps from your account

This is the highest-impact step. Every gambling app you've ever used "Login with Facebook" for is still linked, feeding the algorithm and potentially letting them re-target you.

1. Go to Settings & privacy → Settings → Apps and websites (left sidebar).
2. You'll see every app you've ever logged into with Facebook. Check both the Active and Expired tabs.
3. Click Remove on every gambling app, sportsbook, casino, slot game, or poker app you find.

Step 5 — Unlike and unfollow gambling pages

1. Go to your Profile → More → Likes (sometimes shown under "About").
2. Scroll through and unlike any gambling-related pages.
3. Open Activity Log → Following and unfollow any gambling-related pages, people, or sportsbook accounts you're following.

If the algorithm is genuinely a trigger, the strongest move is a fresh Facebook account — or stepping away from Facebook entirely while you build your recovery. Cleaning targeting helps, but Meta's ad system is persistent and gambling advertisers re-target lookalike audiences constantly. There's no shame in choosing the cleaner break.

1. Go to Settings → Privacy (or visit your account settings on reddit.com)
2. Scroll to "Limit ads in selected categories"
3. Toggle "Allow gambling ads" to off
4. Tap Done

Tip: While you're there, you can also disable alcohol, dating, and other ad categories you'd rather not see.

1. Go to myadcenter.google.com and sign in
2. Look for "Sensitive topics" (sometimes listed under "Limit ads")
3. Find Gambling and turn it off

Tip: This one setting covers YouTube, Google Search, Gmail, Discover, and any website running Google ads — which is most of the web.

1. When a gambling ad appears, long press on the video
2. Tap "Not interested"
3. For more control: go to Profile → ☰ Menu → Settings and privacy
4. Tap Ads → "Advertiser settings"
5. Turn off "Personalized ads" to reduce targeting based on your activity

Tip: TikTok also lets you report ads. Tap "Report" and select that the ad is for gambling content — this helps TikTok filter future ads for you.

1. When you see a gambling ad, tap the ⋯ on the ad
2. Select "This ad isn't relevant to me"
3. For broader control: go to Settings → Privacy and Safety → Ads preferences
4. Turn off "Personalized ads"
5. Under "Your advertiser list", you can also block specific gambling advertisers

Tip: Blocking individual gambling company accounts (like DraftKings, FanDuel, etc.) also prevents their promoted posts from showing up.

1. Tap your profile icon → ⚙ Settings
2. Scroll to Ad Preferences (under Privacy Controls)
3. Turn off "Activity-based Audiences" and "Third-party Ad Networks"
4. When gambling ads appear in Stories or Discover, hold on the ad and select "I don't want to see this"

Tip: Snapchat doesn't have topic-level blocking, so hiding individual ads and turning off personalization is the best approach.