The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) warned Profit Accumulator, a company offering match-betting information in return to a subscription fee, over two posts on its official Instagram account.
The complaint was filed by an individual, who challenged whether the posts suggested that matched betting could be used by customers as a way to guarantee themselves financial security, saying such adverts were irresponsible.
As mentioned above, both posts were uploaded on the company’s Instagram account. The first one was seen on March 22nd, 2019, with the post including an image featuring a text informing users that a customer had generated a big win a bit earlier, accompanied by a superimposed text and several hashtags. The second post was seen on April 11th, 2019. It included a review implying that one of the company’s customers has won a lot of money from match betting and the guidance of the operator. Hashtags were also included.
Profit Accumulator Ltd explained that the company has always been committed to being in line with the CAP Code rules. The operator further explained that their services were aimed at helping people by offering them the advantage of bookmakers’ promotions and free bets and therefore ensure profit, along with other loopholes that could be exploited. Also, an explanation of how matched betting worked was provided by Profit Accumulator and further noted that the hashtags included in the two posts did not suggest that the company’s product was an alternative to full-time employment.
The Two Instagram Posts of Profit Accumulator Were Socially Irresponsible, the ASA Says
The ASA investigated the complaint about the two Instagram posts of the matched betting service operator. The Authority understood the nature of matched betting and the fact that no loss was incurred, as customers could make a profit in various situations.
The UK advertising watchdog further acknowledged that some customers, who use the matched betting service provided by Profit Accumulator, would be exposed to gambling offerings but the service provided by Profit Accumulator was not gambling by itself. Still, the regulatory body believed that one of the main purposes of the service was to make gambling easier and it, therefore, assessed the two adverts with this consideration in mind.
According to the ASA, the two posts on Instagram could imply that matched betting could be a stable source of income for the provider’s customers and, at the same time, expose them to gambling.
After an investigation and careful consideration, the ASA concluded that the ads were irresponsible and both of them breached CAP Code rule 1.3 associated with social responsibility. As a result of the ruling, both of the ads must not appear in their current form anymore. Profit Accumulator was also warned by the ASA that it should not suggest or imply that matched betting could provide people with a long-term solution to their financial concern, or that it could provide as equal stability as full-time employment.
- Author
Olivia Cole
