News

Sunday, January 22, 2006
Multi-million dollar fine for advertising of gambling services

The U.S. Department of Justice reached a multi million dolar settlement with Sporting News, a well known sports media company, for having accepted advertisements of online, offshore gambling sites in its magazines, radio stations and online portals.

The settlement consists of a $4.2 million fine and a commitment to complete a three-year public service campaign to educate people about illegal Internet and telephone gambling.

The sttlement is one of various cases by the Department of Justice against media companies to crack down on online gambling, which is illegal in the United States. According to the Department of Justice, media companies are not allowed to carry advertisments of online gambing companies, as much as they cannot do so of drug dealers or child pornographers.

Authorities are less efficient in many other countries, where online gambling is illegal, but where nothing is done against advertising and promotion by these illegal operators.