The Justice Department said that software giant Microsoft Corp., Internet search engines Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. have agreed to pay $31.5 million to settle charges that the three companies promoted illegal Internet gambling. The companies will pay money to the Justice Department and will also publicly advertise against illegal Internet gambling targeted at people below 22 years of age.
The companies are charged with accepting money from 1997 through 2007 from online gambling businesses to advertise illegal betting.