How to Get Your RMG License and Successfully Advertise Competitions on Facebook and Instagram

What is RMG and Why Does It Matter for Competition Businesses?

Real Money Gambling (RMG) refers to any form of gambling where participants can win cash or prizes that can be redeemed for cash. This broad category includes various types of competition and raffle businesses. If you’re running one of these businesses, you need to be aware of how essential an RMG License is to your online advertising efforts — especially if you’re advertising on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Below I run through the general process, but you'll still need legal advise - please reach out so I can introduce you to the correct people!

Why You Need an RMG License for Facebook and Instagram

An RMG License is a permit that allows businesses to advertise real-money gaming and competition services on Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram). Both platforms are massive sources of traffic and revenue for competition businesses, so having the proper RMG license in place can prevent sudden account suspensions or permanent bans.

Imagine you’re building awareness and revenue with Facebook ads, only to find your ad account suspended or banned without notice. Not only is this stressful, but reaching a real person in Facebook’s customer service team can be challenging. To avoid these issues, having an RMG license is key.

Why Facebook is Cautious About Competition Ads

Meta has always taken a cautious stance on promoting any activities related to online gambling, including competitions, raffles, and draws. Recently, the company has started enforcing stricter rules around ad accounts that lack RMG approval. If your competition business advertises on Facebook or Instagram, you need to be aware of these rules and prepare accordingly.

Steps to Get Your Competition Ads Approved on Facebook

Getting pre-approved to advertise your competition business on Facebook involves a few essential steps:

1. Apply for RMG Approval: First, you’ll need to apply for Facebook’s Online Real Money Gaming (RMG) License (*Message me on how to do this). This includes selecting the regions where you intend to advertise and specifying the domain name of your competition website.
2. Describe Your Safety Measures: As part of the RMG application, Facebook will require information on how you plan to prevent unauthorised access to your competition site. You’ll need to address questions about ensuring minors or users from restricted areas cannot participate, and affirm the legality of your activity.
3. Provide a Legal Opinion: Beyond Facebook’s approval, you’ll need a legal professional to certify the legality of your competition business. This involves obtaining a solicitor’s letter verifying that your product meets all necessary legal standards in the region you wish to advertise. Working with a solicitor who specializes in competition and raffle businesses can be invaluable, especially if you need help resolving ad account suspensions.

How the RMG License Benefits Your Facebook Advertising

More competition businesses are facing ad account restrictions or bans for lacking an RMG license, which is why we advise all clients to secure this permit before launching any campaigns. Here’s why the RMG license is essential for Facebook and Instagram advertising:

• Ensures Compliance: Without an RMG license, your ad account is at risk of being suspended, which can halt your advertising efforts. Once suspended, the reinstatement process can be lengthy or even result in a permanent ban.
• Unlocks Spending Flexibility: New accounts are often limited by Facebook’s spending caps to prevent potential fraud. Over time, Meta monitors accounts for compliance and trustworthiness. To gradually increase this spending cap, we recommend starting with small, free competitions or RMG-approved paid competitions with low-value prizes. Facebook typically lifts spending caps as businesses demonstrate responsible use of their ad accounts.

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