Leading social network giant Facebook has banned online bingo advertising on their popular site, following an amendment to their advertising rules that prohibits potentially harmful or addictive products and services.

According to Facebook’s new advertising rules, they will not permit any “gambling, including without limitation, any online casino, sports books, bingo, or poker.” The banned list also includes tobacco products, firearms, pyramid schemes, nudity, adult toys, spy cameras, uncertified pharmaceuticals and dating sites amongst others.

The ban on bingo advertising comes despite the fact that bingo is permitted and regulated by the UK government. Facebook is a US-based website however, which could explain why gambling is taken as such as serious matter.

The irony of the ban is that bingo is a widely searched subject on Facebook, and many leading bingo sites have pages on the social networking site. With ever-increasing numbers, the bingo industry is booming, and as such Facebook is missing the huge potential that comes from advertisements for bingo games online.