MP wants to stop Google gambling ads

Fri 13 February 2009 09:10, Bas van den Beld

Since last October Google has reintroduced gambling ads in the UK which they banned in 2007. When Google abandoned the gambling ads in 2007 search traffic went down so Google decided to lift the ban last year. With allowing gambling companies to run Adwords campaigns Google is supposedly making a lot of money.

Labour MP Kahlid Mahmood feels Google is wrong to reintroduce the gambling ads and filed a motion in the Parliament to get Google to review their policy.

The motion states: "This house notes with concern the recent decision of Google to reintroduce online gambilng advertisements during a period of economic downturn; supports the Church of England's position that the actions of Google risk normalising gambling in society; and calls on Google to review its policy in line with its own obligations on corporate social responsibility.”

James Cashmore, industry leader at Google UK, believes Google is already doing everything possible to maintain a decent policy: "Following a thorough policy review last year, we believe that allowing search ads for gambling in Great Britain is consistent with local business practices. We have, however, taken steps to ensure only properly licensed gambling businesses can advertise on Google, and these ads will automatically be classified as 'Non-Family Safe', meaning they will not show on any search where a user has applied the Safe Search filter. Advertisers must also display links to a gambling charity - like GamCare, or Gamble aware - on their websites."

So far Mahmood has been able to get 40 signatures of other MPs supporting the motion. The Parliament will with enough support ask Google to review their policy, however with this motion Google cannot be forced to change their policy.

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