The companies said they stopped taking the ads years ago. The settlement was announced by Catherine L. Hanaway, the United States attorney for eastern Missouri, who said the investigation, conducted by her office, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, dated to 2000. Negotiations have been going on for 12 to 18 months, she said.

Microsoft’s $21 million portion of the settlement includes a $4.5 million forfeiture, $7.5 million to be paid to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children and $9 million in public service ads over a three-year period, starting next year.

The public service campaign will aim the message that online gambling is illegal at those of college age and younger.

“We’re hopeful that our educational campaign will stop young people from gambling before they start,” the company said. Yahoo’s $7.5 million share of the settlement includes a $3 million forfeiture and $4.5 million in public service ads over three years.

Google will pay $3 million. A spokesman, Jon Murchinson, said the ads were in sponsored links at Google.com and other Web sites that belong to its ad network. “While we did not admit any wrongdoing, the Department of Justice has advised that online gambling is illegal in the United States, and ads to promote it are improper,” he said.

Bangkok police in Thailand arrested 11 people, including two foreigners, for operating an online casino over the Internet from a building right opposite the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) headquarters.
The group opened their office, HK & T (TV and Film) Production, on the Rasa Tower II Building’s 12th floor in Soi Phaholyothin 19 – just 40 metres from the CSD head office.