Facebook is perhaps the most popular social networking site. Facebook is free for users but they generate their revenue through advertisements. In an attempt to broaden their spectrum of industries, FB has announced certain policy changes for its Ad Guidelines. The announcement states that Facebook has issued a new directive that permits online and offline gambling advertising subject to certain constraints. These new changes have come as a continuation to the earlier initiatives in which Facebook had relaxed some of its gambling related promotional guidelines.

Prohibitions have been eased on contests, sweepstakes and some other gambling activities. But of course the local gambling laws must also be taken into consideration. In the US, the online gambling is not legal, at least according to the Federal law, and so online gambling ads must be targeted outside the US. Ads that promote or facilitate online gambling, including games of skill, lotteries, online casino games, sports books, bingo or poker will be allowed only in specific countries. Facebook will allow ads from lottery commissions that are licensed or sponsored by government entities. But these ads must comply with applicable law in the jurisdiction in which the ads will be released. Also the ads must only target users in the jurisdiction in which the online gambling is available.