Google Bans ALL Gambling Advertisements

Looks like Internet giant Google has decided to take additional measures in their effort to stamp out any online gambling advertising. Up until recently, both Google and Yahoo were banning advertisements on pay-to-play online gambling websites in the UK, but now Google has extended that ban to all online gambling sites - even the ones where no money is exchanged.

ANARCHY IN THE UK

With Yahoo having already jumped into the realm of real-money poker, one has to wonder if this move is being made as a precursor to Google’s entry into the online gambling industry? A Google spokesperson released the following statement:

"Google has always prohibited the advertising of things like bingo, poker and online casinos. However, having looked at this issue very carefully and considered the views of our users, we have decided to extend our policy. We will no longer take ads for sites that promote gambling related content or gambling tutorials or whose primary purpose is `playing for fun', gambling or casino games of skill.
While we respect people's differing views on gambling - and support freedom of expression - we believe that this new policy is simpler for everyone to understand and more in tune with users' wishes.”

SAY WHAT!?!

More in tune with users’ wishes? Do you mean to tell me that people actually write to Google and complain about gambling advertising? Okay, there’s always going to be that fringe element of kooks who will actually take the time to write a complaint, but come on; I’m not buying this lame excuse for a second. I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy nut, but I firmly believe that something else is going on here.

In times past, gambling sites have tried to get around any bans by advertising free section of their website. They even went so far as to have separate domain names for free gambling, with links to their pay sites. But now that will all be a thing of the past. In fact, MSN is now the only major search engine to allow advertising for pay-to-play gambling websites in the UK, but one has to wonder how long that will last?

For more about online gambling issues, take a look at the following:

Yahoo! Offers Real-Money Poker

Hearing on Internet Gambling This Friday

Google Bans ALL Gambling Advertisements