Linden Lab cracks down on Second Life casino ads
By Adam Reuters
SECOND LIFE, April 6 (Reuters) - Linden Lab said on Thursday it has banned classified ads and listings “that appear to relate to simulated casino activity,” amid increasing questions about the legality of virtual casinos and gambling in Second Life.
“It has been a basic tenet of Second Life that all Residents are legally responsible for their own activities and for complying with the laws of the local jurisdiction in which they reside,” Robin Linden, the company’s head of community development, said on the company’s blog. “However, given the ambiguities of the issues, Linden Lab has decided that we will not accept any classified ads, place listings, or event listings that appear to relate to simulated casino activity.”
Reuters reported exclusively on Tuesday that the FBI had visited virtual casinos in Second Life at the invitation of Linden Lab. Former general counsel Ginsu Yoon told Reuters the company had also attempted to obtain legal
guidance on the issue from the U.S. Attorney for Northern California, but that it had not received any clear guidelines.
Questions about gambling in Second Life come amid a crackdown on offshore gaming Web sites by U.S. law enforcement agencies. One site, PalmVegas.com, said on Thursday it would ban U.S.-based Second Life residents from its virtual casino to avoid violating anti-gambling statutes.
“For our part, we will continue to evaluate these issues, including where appropriate by reaching out to law enforcement, and by working toward solutions that keep our Residents’ experiences safe and legal,” Robin Linden said.
Earlier this year, the company banned advertising and listings for virtual child pornography after the Dutch public prosecutor’s office announced it was considering prosecutions.
