The UK gambling industry took a kicking Wednesday from the nation’s advertising watchdog, who deemed three different adverts to have broken its rules.
On Wednesday, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) published three rulings that went against gambling operators. Among these was the Gamesys ‘Monopoly Casino’ ad that the ASA determined was likely to have particular appeal to children, a ruling that leaked to the UK’s reliably anti-gambling media over the weekend.
The ASA also banned an ad for UK-listed gambling operator Paddy Power Betfair‘s Paddy Power brand that featured football icon Ryan Giggs’ brother Rhodri Giggs promoting the bookie’s rewards program. The ASA received five complaints regarding the ad’s alleged glamorization of gambling by suggesting it was a means of achieving a better standard of living.
The typically tongue-in-cheek promo featured Rhodri reflecting on his life of loyalty, including patronizing the same pub/gym/etc., only to declare that “loyalty gets you nowhere. Live for rewards instead.” Rhodri was then shown in a flash car, thanking Paddy Power and driving away, revealing a license plate that read ‘Ambassador Car.’