Google Ad Words - gambling?

[kksuited]

Okay, so adwords doesn't allow gambling (technically, you can't have a real money site with in 2 clicks), but how come I see tons of them? You mean www.888.com doesn't have gambling with in 2 clicks?

Do these people just put up adwords until they are caught, then they get taken down?

[Kestrel]

I really dont understand their policy.

Firstly my name is disapproved as it has the word 'Poker' in it. Then they allow my name, but disallow any keywords that contain the same word.

And yet they have sites up there which explain how to cheat at online Poker.

Somebody needs to sort it out.

Have you tried contacting Google for clarification of their policy?

[kksuited]

yeah, they say no real money gambling with in 2 clicks. that's obviously bullshit in the short term at least.

[Kestrel]

Here's the email I received:

Thank you for your email.

I can fully appreciate your concern at the recent disapproval of your ad and at the sites which you have noted are currently running as sponsored links on Google when you search under 'Poker'. Please keep in mind that although we do not accept advertisements for online gambling websites, some gambling-related websites are able to run AdWords ads. Some types of gambling-related website content that we may accept on a case-by-case basis are:

- Location-based gambling (ads for destinations where gambling is legal)

- Books, magazines, or TV shows that discuss gambling
- Contests or sweepstakes that are legal where offered

As a business Google must make decisions regarding the advertising we accept. As stated in our Terms and Conditions*, we reserve the right to exercise editorial discretion when reviewing AdWords ads created within the program. This only concerns our advertising and in no way affects the search results we deliver. Google offers broad access to content across the web without censoring results.

* AdWords Terms and Conditions: http://adwords.google.co.uk/select/Transla...Conditions.html

I do hope that this has answered your question. We appreciate your comments on this issue, which will help inform our future policy discussions. Thank you for taking the time to write us.

Sincerely,

Roisin
The Google UK AdWords Team

[kksuited]

thanks for posting that.

All that really does is confirm my belief that Google is rigged. Tell me how www.888.com fits any of those categories. They don't, buttom line. They're just a good customer of google, so they get an add.

[Kestrel]

Exactly, although I can't actually find 888.com on their sponsored list anymore.

But they have plenty of other Poker sites which offer gambling.

What annoys me is that they can't really make an objective deciscion as to whether a site fits their guidlines or not. Notice the "editorial discretion" mention at the bottom. The guidlines seem incredibly fuzzy and full of room for intepretation. So they are basically creating unfair competition, which I am sure is not what Google is about.

They should either accept all Poker sites, or disallow them all together. Simple as that.

[pokerguy]

I have a weird question. Once your Google Ads are approved for one website, could you place Google Ads on a second or third website without getting approval again? Or does Google make you seek approval for every new website you add?

[imteaz]

i apply last month, and they didnt accept mine h34r: :blink:

What annoys me is that they can't really make an objective deciscion as to whether a site fits their guidlines or not. Notice the "editorial discretion" mention at the bottom. The guidlines seem incredibly fuzzy and full of room for intepretation. So they are basically creating unfair competition, which I am sure is not what Google is about.

They should either accept all Poker sites, or disallow them all together. Simple as that.

Since it's THEIR website, Google can approve or disapprove any ads that they want to. They're allowed to have fuzzy or specific (or even non-existent) guidelines, their choice. They're also allowed to exercise any kind of editorial discretion that they like.

Most of the people hanging out on this forum own their own websites. Guess what? They can each decide whether or not they're going to let me advertise on their sites. That's one of the perks of owning a website.

People think that because Google is a big website with a lot of traffic, they have to play by some kind of unwritten rules of fairness, but they don't. They're not a government institution; they're a business, and they're allowed to make any business decisions they want to.

Anyone who doesn't like their business decisions has the option of not patronizing their business.