Adsense on Poker Related Websites

Is it Allowed and what are the guidelines

[graywolf]

With the popularity of poker on the rise it's only natural that I'm seeing an increase in the number of poker news blogs and websites. Lately even some high profile web publishers are getting into the game, and many of them are using adsense on these websites. When you review the adsense policies [google.com] you see this line:

Site may not include: * Gambling or casino-related content

So my question is where does Google draw the line? Is news about the World Series of Poker ok? Do we just need to keep casino affiliate links off the page? Are there any rules of thumb we should try to abide by?

[jomaxx]

Well that statement is pretty clear and unambiguous. I certainly wouldn't take the word of anyone here that Google won't enforce a rule that has been one of their central policies since day 1. Even if you find an AdSense site with lots of poker-related content, that doesn't mean it's permitted or that you won't get punished for doing the same.

My personal opinion is that if you're trying to attract poker-related traffic and show poker-related ads, then you're over the line.

[Celicaphile]

Also keep in mind that Adwords doesn't allow a lot of poker/gambling related sites. I believe they may have changed their terms w/in the last 6months, so your pool of advertisers via adsense is smaller than it used to be. It's not worth it IMO...

[Jenstar]

I advised someone to remove AdSense from a poker site. I could see how news on the World Series of Poker might be okay, so definitely run the site past the AdSense team and see what they say.

[Webwork]

Is playing cards - even poker - the same as gambling? No, gambling implicitly requires the exchange of money or other consideration.

What if your site is about "learning to play" poker, not actually gambling? The tools, the techniques, the strategies - just not money management strategy and not the "gambling element".

I can see a particularly well crafted site passing muster, but certainly I'd say "run it past them first". The well crafted site would have to be limited to poker playing (not betting) rules or strategy, odds, equipment, etc.

But, where's the fun without the "action"? Actually, there's a whole lot to be said and learned before one should actually "gamble", so I can see how a general educational site might actually be of some value. Might actually help some people to not lose money.

I'd say it's the perfect topic for evergreen content: Outline it, design, craft it, get it to pass - and then leave it the heck alone! ;0)

[elsewhen]

i have wondered about the following... suppose you had a website about games... you had articles about board games and carrom and darts etc. each had a set of articles describing how to play, the history etc. if that site has an article about poker, are you not allowed to have a single article about poker. what if no ads were placed on the pages about poker.

as i read the TOS, even this sort of setup is not allowed, but i find it hard to believe, that every comprehensive game site, or even every encyclopedia is breaking the TOS if they carry adsense.

[Cayars]

How about sites like Excite that clearly have a gambling section?

Does this rule get thrown out also for premium members?

Carlo

[lorendata]

Of course, if you put in the term "poker" or "gambling" on Google itself, check out all the ads...hmm...I bet those ads pay really well....

...do what I say, not what I do...

[woop01]

Me and some friends setup a website to get games together in our local city. The domain name was "[widgetcityintitials]poker.com" and every page was devoted to poker in "widget city".

Since throwing Adsense on the site has become second nature for freebie sites I do, I threw it on there as well. The only ads that showed up were ads for real estate in the "widget city" area. I don't remember ever seeing an ad for a poker related website on it.