By Kevin Felix | December 21, 2007

United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway, one of the foremost crusaders against the online gambling industry, announced Wednesday that Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo! have entered into settlements with the United States “to resolve claims that they promoted illegal gambling.”The settlements are as follows:

Microsoft - $21 million

• $4.5 million to the United States
• $7.5 million to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help it establish a fund to assist with its mission.
• $9 million to fund an advertising campaign aimed at young people, informing them that online gambling is “illegal under U.S. law.”It will run for three years, starting in early 2008.

Google - $3 million (presumably directly to the U.S.)

Yahoo! - $7.5 million

• $3 million to the U.S.
• $4.5 million for an online ad campaign to “inform and educate users that operators and participants in online or telephonic sports bookmaking and casino-type gambling activities doing business in the United States may be subject to arrest and prosecution.”It will run for three years.

Despite the United States’ claims that online gambling is illegal, Ms. Hathaway herself said in recent testimony before the House Judiciary Committee that there is no federal law which makes it a crime for people to gamble online.It is only illegal to run an online gambling business.

Related posts:

1. New Gambling Study Shows Consistent Remote Gambling Activity in UK Adults
   The Gambling Commission has released the latest edition of its ongoing study concerning remote gambling participation. The study, conducted by...
2. Ruling in iMEGA Case Clarifies UIGEA
   The United States 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals issued their ruling in a case challenging the constitutionality of the 2006...
3. US to Settle Dispute With Antigua
   In what has become one of the most drawn out legal battles in poker history, the highly publicized Antigua/US World...
4. Antigua Continues Full Court Press
   The small island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is intent on remaining a major thorn in the United States’ side.Already...
5. Bodog Still Offering Fight to Settle Patent Dispute
   This weekend patent experts turned their attention to the ongoing dispute between 1st Technologies and Bodog, offering their opinions on...