Search Engines Call Bets Off for Online Casino Ad Guidelines
Google and Yahoo to clamp down on Internet gambling banner ads
Friday 11th May 2007
According to reports in New Media Age, industry leading search engine Google has refused to reconsider its ban on gambling funded-search ads, following new advertising that bypasses the firm’s restrictive legislation.
Leading companies such as Sky have already managed to circumnavigate Google’s regulations, introducing a search campaign this week that guides its customers to a Sky Poker-branded page showing footage from the Sky Poker TV channel, without linking users to the site where they can play for real money, fulfilling Google’s strict criteria for gambling ads in the process.
Yahoo! Search Marketing has also allegedly told advertisers that it is no longer accepting: ‘...advertisements that contain invitations to play, any mention of money (eg. GNB 1 000 jackpot), or any offers or incentives to take part in gaming (eg. bonus or benefit)’.
The company also stated that its current run of advertisements will undergo an assessment to monitor their compliance, a process that is set to be completed by mid-June.
According to reports in New Media Age, industry leading search engine Google has refused to reconsider its ban on gambling funded-search ads, following new advertising that bypasses the firm’s restrictive legislation.