ASA stops Paddy Power’s “Papa Loves Mambo” ad broadcast

British advertising watchdog Advertising Standards Authority has ordered bookmaker Paddy Power to stop airing a controversial advertisement that promotes gambling in the workplace.

In a ruling posted on its website, ASA found that the bookmaker has breached the UK Code of Broadcast Advertising (BCAP Code) when it aired the “Papa Loves Mambo” ad, which showed a casino security guard singing  while playing Paddy Power Casino on his mobile device.

“The ad must not be broadcast again in its current form. We told Paddy Power to ensure their ads did not feature gambling in a working environment,” the ASA ruling read.

The complaint against the latest Paddy Power advertisement stemmed from two concerned citizens who claimed that the ad was socially irresponsible because it implied it was acceptable to gamble in the workplace.