Illegal gambling ads cost Google, Microsoft & Yahoo! $31.5M

The three search engine giants of the industry, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! have reached on a settlement of paying $31.5M to the US Justice Department. The Justice department had charged the companies of taking money for placing Illegal gambling advertisements.

Under the settlement, the three companies will contribute $ 31.5M to the US Justice Department. This money will then used to set up a fund which will air public service announcements educating people that online gambling in the United States is illegal. Microsoft is the highest contributor to the fund and will be paying $21 million, while while Yahoo will be contributing $7.5 million and Google would pay $3 million. Also, taking the initiative a step further Microsoft would also be contributing $9 million to International Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Other than money, both Microsoft and Yahoo have collectively agreed to provide free online advertising space for public service campaigns. The fronts will be aimed at spreading awareness about online gambling and its legal implications under US law. However, it would be a million dollar question if somebody could tell, how much money did they actually make placing the illegal ads!?

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