How much does it cost to buy yourself out of illegal Internet gambling?
Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc know the answer.
The three organizations agreed to pay $31.5 million to the US Department of Justice for receiving money from businesses that advertised illgal betting from '97-'07.
Microsoft kittied up $21 million, Google $3 and Yahoo $7.5.
The companies still, however, will not admit to receiving advertising money.
Microsoft's settlement includes a US$4.5 million fine plus a US$7.5 million
contribution to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Microsoft also agreed to create a $9 million online campaign focused at young people to teach them gambling is illegal under US law.
Yahoo will provide $4.5 million for a public-service campaign to inform users that operators and participants in online or telephone-based sports and casino-type gambling in the US may be subject to arrest and prosecution."
Google will go back to controlling Internet searches and advertising.
Sounds a lot like "Do as we say, not as we did."
No?
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