Facebook Says No to Online Gambling Ads
December
31, 2009
If
you run an online gambling company you are going
to have to look elsewhere to make your presence
known as Facebook is not allowing any online
gambling ads any more. The social networking
site has a list of industries if you will, that
are not allowed to advertise on their site and
online gambling is one of them. Their
advertising policy says that “Gambling,
including without limitation, any online casino,
sports books, bingo, or poker without
authorization from Facebook” is strictly
prohibited.
The ban includes not just online gambling as a
whole, but also specifically does not allow
bingo, poker, online casinos, and sports books.
They know that they have a younger clientele on
their application and they don’t want them
having access to online gambling sites through
their company. They also do not allow firearms
or tobacco to be advertised – although they do
allow alcohol if you include a disclaimer about
underage and responsible drinking.
Online gambling companies can still create pages
within the site even if they cannot advertise
them. These groups will be joined really by
spreading word of mouth around. This way the
online gambling groups can still connect with
their players, just not those that really
shouldn’t be checking them out.
Some think that allowing alcohol but not online
gambling is hypocritical of the company – but
they say that they are merely looking at the
susceptibility of their market. They also point
out that online gambling is illegal within the
US and so it shouldn’t be advertising anyway.
