Google, Yahoo drop gambling site ads

simon147 · 05-04-04

Google, Yahoo drop gambling site ads

Google and Yahoo are discontinuing the display of adverts for online gambling sites in the US, citing a "lack of clarity" in the regulations. US prosecutors have recently warned companies that running ads for offshore online casinos was equivalent to "aiding and abetting." It is currently illegal in the US to run an online gambling site. Yahoo has said that the ban would apply to US websites only, while Google's regulation applies to its sites worldwide. . The change is likely to come in at the end of this month, according to the New York Times. The World Trade Organisation recently ruled that the US ban on on-line gambling was in breach of international trade law.

999gi · 05-04-04

Wow
Quite a vague article - not clear whether this relates to casinos or all forms of gambling

tomj · 05-04-04

isn't overture doing the same?

harris1 · 22-04-04

Just had the emails from Google. I replied as requested and they have confirmed they will be removing all my betting ads ! it applies globally not just to the US.

Man this will cost them a fortune, gambling is one of the most highly monetised sectors. All gambling sites are going with the exception of a very view content sites. But nothing were actually gambling is going on, or links to sites were gambling is going on.

Basically you cant expect any affilaites to survive this or very few.

My understanding is that Overture are just dropping the ads in the US market place.

Mogga · 22-04-04

So they dropping them from the listings too?

US govt will have a go at porn next if they get away with this.

Rich · 22-04-04

Oh dear - so much for my nice little betting adwords campaign that were my best earner last month (where's the 'sobbing my eyes out' smiley?)

matbennett · 22-04-04

"The World Trade Organisation recently ruled that the US ban on online gambling was in breach of international trade law."

- The Regsiter

(not that I think that will make one jot of difference!)

watcher · 22-04-04

The US always like to portray itself as the foremost proponent of the open and free market - yet constantly introduces legislation that is the opposite !

Google did say they will still list gambling sites in their SERPs - should be good for the gambling SEOs who've hit the top already.

Malcolm Cowley · 22-04-04

Just read this thread - nearly had a heart attack then read on and now am relieved to say the least.

Thought it was a bit much to ban serps results for gambling

watcher · 22-04-04

But how long until they're told not to ?

(Probably when a casino is successfully sued for gambling addiction ...)

toneharb · 04-05-04

After using google for gambling directory ads they have said the same to me

I have emailed them back asking if theres anything that can be done ie: can 'gambling' be replaced with 'betting' or someone other similar word

I am a bit confused on this to say the least also ihave just done a google search on keyword 'gambling' and there's plenty of adverts still there so any idea why they are still there ?

Tone

Rich · 04-05-04

My only guess is they've done a search on gambling terms and have generated a list of possibles and are now going thru the accounts by hand before emailing people. Which would take a while.

Are they just turning off whole campaigns or being more detailed?

I removed the word betting from all my ads when I first heard about this, but I'm, sure it's only a matter of time until they get round to me