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<p>Now MPs <a href="http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/live/articles/mps-call-on-google-to-review-gambling-ad-policy.asp/5613/">want Google to reconsider that ban</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>This house notes with concern the recent decision of Google to reintroduce online gambling 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.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Does Google really risk normalizing gambling in society? Does it really have an obligation to ban advertising for gambling as part of '<em>corporate social responsibility</em>'?</p>
<p>Hannah Kimuyu, the PPC Director for <a href="http://www.greenlightsearch.com/">Greenlight</a>, stated:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>...I would say that the responsibility lies with the gambling companies themselves. If they are allowed to advertise through other channels such as television; then why not through Google. Google’s overturn isn’t a free for all; there are regulations in place including an emphasis on gambleware. Therefore, shouldn’t the government encourage and assist Google in monitoring the gambling companies, as opposed to calling for a reinstatement of the ban?</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>She went on to note that Google's move to reinstate gambling ads was clearly a move designed to counteract the effects of the credit crisis and to "<em>fill the hole in its revenue fast</em>" as advertisers cut spend. Kimuyu estimates that the annual turnover for Google's gambling ads "<em>could easily reach £300m</em>".</p>
<p>Which begs the question: isn't that good for the economy? After all, Google does pay taxes.</p>
<p>And if gambling is legal and advertised through other mediums, it's hard to see why there should be a double standard when it comes to the internet. If MPs are worried about the "<em>normalization</em>" of gambling in society, perhaps they should consider the possibility that the legality of gambling is what normalized it in the first place?</p>
<p>Hopefully Google will rebuff these calls for a new ban on gambling ads. As we've pointed out before, even when the ban was in place marketers used clever typos to circumvent the ban and even with a ban on paid search ads, it's not like people are going to have a hard time finding gambling sites via the organic SERPs.</p>
<p>Therefore, in my opinion these MPs are just blowing a lot of smoke.</p>
<p>Now MPs <a href="http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/live/articles/mps-call-on-google-to-review-gambling-ad-policy.asp/5613/">want Google to reconsider that ban</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>This house notes with concern the recent decision of Google to reintroduce online gambling 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.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Does Google really risk normalizing gambling in society? Does it really have an obligation to ban advertising for gambling as part of '<em>corporate social responsibility</em>'?</p>
<p>Hannah Kimuyu, the PPC Director for <a href="http://www.greenlightsearch.com/">Greenlight</a>, stated:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>...I would say that the responsibility lies with the gambling companies themselves. If they are allowed to advertise through other channels such as television; then why not through Google. Google’s overturn isn’t a free for all; there are regulations in place including an emphasis on gambleware. Therefore, shouldn’t the government encourage and assist Google in monitoring the gambling companies, as opposed to calling for a reinstatement of the ban?</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>She went on to note that Google's move to reinstate gambling ads was clearly a move designed to counteract the effects of the credit crisis and to "<em>fill the hole in its revenue fast</em>" as advertisers cut spend. Kimuyu estimates that the annual turnover for Google's gambling ads "<em>could easily reach £300m</em>".</p>
<p>Which begs the question: isn't that good for the economy? After all, Google does pay taxes.</p>
<p>And if gambling is legal and advertised through other mediums, it's hard to see why there should be a double standard when it comes to the internet. If MPs are worried about the "<em>normalization</em>" of gambling in society, perhaps they should consider the possibility that the legality of gambling is what normalized it in the first place?</p>
<p>Hopefully Google will rebuff these calls for a new ban on gambling ads. As we've pointed out before, even when the ban was in place marketers used clever typos to circumvent the ban and even with a ban on paid search ads, it's not like people are going to have a hard time finding gambling sites via the organic SERPs.</p>
<p>Therefore, in my opinion these MPs are just blowing a lot of smoke.</p>
2009-02-12T16:23:55+00:00
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<p><strong><img alt="" height="71" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/327852627_c67190927c_t.jpg" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" width="100" />In June 2007, Google implemented <a href="/blog/1314-google-widens-ban-on-gambling-ads">a global ban on gambling ads</a>. But by October of last year <a href="/blog/2867-google-reintroduces-gambling-ads-to-adwords">it had decided to reverse that ban</a>, allowing licensed gambling operators in the UK and the European Economic Area to purchase ads in the UK market.</strong></p>
<p>At the time, Google claimed that the reversal of the ban was part of a plan to make local search results more relevant.</p>
<p><strong><img style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/327852627_c67190927c_t.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="71" />In June 2007, Google implemented <a href="/blog/1314-google-widens-ban-on-gambling-ads">a global ban on gambling ads</a>. But by October of last year <a href="/blog/2867-google-reintroduces-gambling-ads-to-adwords">it had decided to reverse that ban</a>, allowing licensed gambling operators in the UK and the European Economic Area to purchase ads in the UK market.</strong></p>
<p>At the time, Google claimed that the reversal of the ban was part of a plan to make local search results more relevant.</p>
false
3291
<p>For more information about paid search marketing, read our <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/paid-search-marketing-ppc-best-practice-guide">PPC Best Practice Guide</a></strong>, and our separate buyer's guides for <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/paid-search-agencies-buyers-guide">Paid Search Agencies</a></strong> and for <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/ppc-bid-management-technology-buyers-guide">PPC Bid Management Technology</a></strong>.</p>
<p>For more information about paid search marketing, read our <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/paid-search-marketing-ppc-best-practice-guide">PPC Best Practice Guide</a></strong>, and our separate buyer's guides for <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/paid-search-agencies-buyers-guide">Paid Search Agencies</a></strong> and for <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/ppc-bid-management-technology-buyers-guide">PPC Bid Management Technology</a></strong>.</p>
MPs call for Google to reinstate ban on gambling ads
false
2009-02-12T16:26:15+00:00
mps-call-for-google-to-reinstate-ban-on-gambling-ads
2009-04-30T00:41:31+01:00
2009-10-13T10:01:33+01:00
926