In a surprise move, the world’s largest social networking group has announced that it will be fazing out online gambling advertisements on its site. By barring online gambling ads, Facebook is essentially putting this form of entertainment in the same category as firearms and tobacco which are also not allowed to be marketed on the site. Facebook is arguing that with such a young customer base, it needs to draw a line when it comes to advertising and online gambling clearly fits the bill.

Facebook listed gambling under ‘prohibited content’, and defined it as “gambling, including without limitation, any online casino, sports books, bingo or poker.”  Other forbidden content includes inflammatory religious content, nudity, uncertified pharmaceuticals. All in all, 20 commodities are being barred on Facebook.

Recently, Google, the world’s largest search engine, did a U-turn on its policy to ban online gambling advertising after several years of following a strict policy, and is now allowing gambling ads once more.