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Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft all settled charges with the US Attorney's office in St. Louis over their display of gambling ads online.

The trio of major Internet players got slapped for permitting ads for gambling to appear in their advertising networks. They will pay $31.5 million collectively to settle charges with the federal government.

A KMOV report said Yahoo, Microsoft, and Google took ads for sports wagering and other online gambling. Unlike places like Canada and the UK, Internet gambling is a federal offense in the US, horse betting being the only exception.

The report said none of the three companies will have to admit wrongdoing. They will, however, fork over millions to the feds, and in the case of Microsoft and Yahoo, pay additional penalties:

Microsoft agreed to pay 4.5 million dollars, to provide 7.5 million dollars to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and to provide 9 million dollars in public service advertising.

Yahoo forfeits 3 million dollars and will provide 4.5 million dollars in public service ads.

Google agrees to pay 3 million dollars.

US law about online gambling has been a sticking point outside the country. The World Trade Organization considers the restriction illegal, and several countries have sought redress over it.