Facebook gets catty with its gambling friends

Facebook gets catty with its gambling friendsFunny how Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, took a huge gamble when he hacked into his university’s computer network at Harvard and copied the dormitory ID images to get his project started. Now this same rebellious college student who was once thought himself above the law is now making the laws for over 350 million active users on Facebook.

Of those laws governing Facebook, the issue now turns to gambling, advertising of which is banned on the site at present. The advertisement regulation page goes so far as to list sportsbooks, bingo and poker as activities that are a part of what constitutes gambling. Whether this is in an effort to set a moral stage or to bypass certain murky waters like internet gambling law, Facebook continues to make these fine distinctions as to what people can and cannot view or post. Other blacklisted topics include what are referred to as “objectionable” material and includes firearms, uncertified pharmaceuticals, inflammatory religious content, pyramid schemes, nudity, tobacco, and spy cameras. Strangely enough, “milk” was listed at one point, but later was lifted.

In the meantime, Facebook is working to remove all online gambling ads and gambling profiles but says that the effort will take time. Filters may be implemented in coming days as well. Despite mounting tensions, businesses and online casino operators will still be allowed to form groups and Facebook pages in order to stay in contact with fans and players.

A gaming analyst by the name of Brad Dawkins says, “This is nothing new for the gambling industry, they cannot even get their main source of income, the NFL, to acknowledge their existence, so it comes as no surprise that Facebook officials ran from the gambling issue as well.”

The big wigs at Harvard may have shown Zuckerberg absolution for his mistakes by not expelling him or charging him with any crimes because of the potential they saw in him, but the question remains: Will Facebookgaming advocates and fans be as forgiving?


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