Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! costly advertising gambling

Companies Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! agreed to pay 31.5 million dollars in exchange for the settlement of civil proceedings, the Associated Press. The plaintiffs accused the largest Internet companies that last placed advertisements illegal in the U.S. online gambling.

The investigation lasted from 2000, and negotiations with each of the companies - from 12 to 18 months. All three of the defendant promised to no longer accept ads related to bets on sporting events or other forms of online gambling.

Most of all, $ 21 million, had to pay Microsoft. This amount includes $ 4.5 million kickbacks. Another $ 7.5 million will be transferred to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In addition, over the next three years, Microsoft will show public service announcements for nine million dollars, which will be referred to the fact that online casinos are illegal.

Portal Yahoo! does not place ads online casinos for several years and will pay the entire $ 7.5 million, of which 3 will be spent on compensation, and the rest - in PSAs.

Google, which since 2004 does not place such ads, pay three million dollars. This is less than a third of its daily revenue from advertising, which is about $ 11 million.