U.S. Takes on Online Gambling: Huge Fines to Microsoft, Yahoo, & Google

U.S. Takes on Online Gambling: Huge Fines to Microsoft, Yahoo, & Google

Something happened recently to the big 3 of the internet: Google, Microsoft (MSN), and Yahoo. It all ties together with online casino gaming. All three lost big money because of it.

These three giants of the world of computer technology paid fines for advertising online gaming entertainment industry companies without performing proper process. The Department of Justice (DoJ) in the United States claimed that these corporations paid $31.5 Million Dollars as fines for their violations of laws regarding the online advertisement of online gambling entertainment. The United States government has emphatically said that they do not condone the encouragement through advertisement of casino gambling of websites that can be easily accessed by under-aged people, especially students. The U.S. government has stated that this is an opportunity as venue for companies to learn about the “dangers of online gambling” and a way to send a message to other search engine marketers. That is why they believe they are forced to file a law suit against these three giants in computer technology – of course, all this stems from the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

The Big Three versus the Big Government




To continue the story as it has developed, the attorneys for the United States federal government have said that these three companies have only paid the amount for arraignment. However, the three major computer companies involved did not admit nor deny the allegations of advertising these casino gambling businesses on their sites. It is important for them to protect their reputation because they are considered as the world’s premier authorities for internet information, with the most viewed sites on the web and the most used software on the planet. Because there is a possibility that each of these companies’ clients and customers will not continue their patronization of their products due to negative publicity, they have attempted to do their part on closing the case as quickly as possible. They have done this so the case will not continue and in order to not fall victim to additional negative publicity about them.

Microsoft was actually the company that paid the largest amount in fines – approximately $21 million United States Dollars (USD). The payment will go to different agencies of the government that the government feels needs monetary support to continue their projects – and to their legal funds to continue their online gambling prosecutions. Microsoft did not comment publicly on the case, the outcome, or the settlement. They have paid the amount in order to ensure that the lawsuit does not continue further and for them to protect their company against any future liability. Although there are people claiming that Microsoft Company accepted payments from many online gambling entertainment associations, they have stood on their legal position that they only provide quality service appropriate for the needs of each user of their software and MSN search engine. This issue is a great controversy faced by companies in this new internet age – the possible implications for reputations of major companies, especially those known as the world’s leading brand on computer software, are huge. Microsoft has been placed into a high pedestal which is not reached by many companies – this means that a company like theirs will be constant targets from both commercial attacks and government attacks. Google, Yahoo, and Apple are also constant targets of lawsuits – this has just been one of the first which has directly involved online casino gaming since the arrival of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act. It’s amazing to think how laws passed by governments are starting to affect the online world, which was previously thought to be untouchable. Even virtual worlds like Second Life are banning casinos – what else will be affected on the internet?

The Blow of Negative Publicity


Although Google and Yahoo! have paid a relatively small amount compared to Microsoft, they admit that this is a great blow to them because they are known world wide for their undoubted credibility and reputation as the world’s online giants. The fines handed down to these three companies for illegal online gambling activities is seen by most legal sources as a deterrent to other companies.  given for them is just right, says the Department of Justice for violating the rules and laws set about the online gambling entertainment.

This is a disturbing new trend of the government interferring in internet communities. For example, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is making casino gaming illegal and wants people to go to the jail and pay thousands just because they play casino games online! We of course know of the many online casinos that have left the United States market as well due to these lawsuits – contact your favorite online casino by phone to make sure they still accept players from your part of the world.

What do you think will happen in this online battle? Will online casino gaming be finally free and open or will governments force internet based casinos to close down altogether?

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