Google Starts Accepting Online Gambling Ads Again

Google says only licensed gambling establishments will qualify as advertisers.

Google has partially reversed a policy against accepting gambling advertisements. The company announced that its decision over the last year to bar gaming ads will no longer apply to England, Scotland, and Wales.

Google has stated its corporate motto is "Don't be evil, " and made implications that the ban on gambling ads was part of a decision to protect the public from such other promotions as those for guns, prostitution, and so-called miracle cures. But Google didn't find gaming unethical until the company was forced to settle with the U.S. Department of Justice.

In that case, Google paid a fine for having accepted ads for online casinos. Removal of any future ads prevented Google from another legal headache with the U.S. government.

Google is presently facing a stock value that is off by almost fifty percent, largely due to declining revenues as advertising dollars are harder to come by in the struggling economy. Internet gambling advertisements represent a huge source of income.

Google defended its change in policy, saying it preferred to localize such decisions to comply with local customs and traditions. Online gambling is legal in Britain. Of course, if that logic were extended, then prostitution ads would be alright in parts of Nevada, and firearms could be pushed in Texas and Florida.

Google says only licensed gambling establishments will qualify as advertisers. Any ads accepted will be coded non-family-safe, which allows parental control software to block them.