Church blasts Google over gambling ads

Danny Brierley13 April 2012

MPs AND Church leaders have condemned Google over its plans to allow gambling firms to advertise on its search engine site.

From today bookmakers and on-line casinos will be able to advertise on Google after rules on advertising were relaxed. The move, which allows companies to buy sponsored links in Britain, brings to an end a global four-year ban. Google operates the world's most popular internet search engine.

A spokesman for the Church of England said: "Whatever people are searching for on Google, it probably isn't the chance to risk developing a serious problem. As people are facing more financial uncertainty, the fantasy of instant wealth could become particularly attractive and the consequences of losses correspondingly serious."

Google said advertisers would have to be regulated in Britain or Europe and carry internet links to addiction organisations. But Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle said: "It's the height of stupidity. It seems probably the worst of times for people to be encouraging gambling, after we have been facing a financial crisis built on reckless gambling in the markets."

Google's James Cashmore said: "Gambling ads will automatically be classified as non-family safe which means they will not show on any search where the user has applied the safe search filter."

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in