The Advertising Standards Authority (ASА) has dealt with a number of signals, resulting in upholding one complaint against the gambling brand Foxy Games earlier today. The advertising watchdog, on the other hand, dismissed another complaint against Betfair Casino in the latest series of its rulings.
One complainant challenged an ad for ElectraWorks Ltd, trading as Foxy Games, seen on July 11th, 2020 on paid-for Google search results. The advert was seen when the complainant searched the term “make money online” on Google. The person, who filed the complaint with the ASA, challenged whether the Foxy Games’ ad was irresponsible, as in their opinion it suggested that playing the bingo and slots games of the company could help customers get more financially secure.
The gambling operator responded to the accusations, saying that it was human error that led to the ad appearing as a result on the search engine. Foxy Games also shared that they had acted to remove it from the search results.
The ASA held an investigation and reminded that under its CAP Code rules, advertisers must not suggest that gambling could solve their customers’ financial problems and be an alternative to employment. According to the advertising regulatory body, the claim “Earn Money Online” suggested to customers that the operator’s gambling system could be used as a way to earn money. The Advertising Standards Authority believed that such a statement could have suggested that gambling could be used as a regular source of income and a way for customers to achieve financial stability.
The watchdog ruled that the ad violated CAP Code rules 16.1 and 16.3.4 related to gambling and addressed the gambling operator, saying that the ad must not appear in its current form anymore.
Advertising Watchdog Says Betfair Casino Ad Does Not Violate CAP Code Rules
Today, the ASA also came up with a ruling involving Betfair Casino Ltd. A complainant, who saw a TV ad for the company’s services in July 2020, which depicted a man who was heading to board a plane, while another character was sitting down, relaxing and looking at his phone that displayed the Betfair Casino app.
The complainant challenged the advert because in their opinion it portrayed gambling as an activity taking priority in life.
Betfair Casino responded to the accusations, saying that it carefully created the ad so that it complied with the BCAP Code rules and requirements. The gambling company also reminded that Clearcast also gave the green light to the ad before it appeared on TV. According to both the gambling operator and Clearcast, the advert did not suggest that gambling was taking priority in the second character’s life over other engagements and commitments, and gambling was not portrayed in a socially irresponsible way.
The complaint was taken into consideration by the Advertising Standards Authority that considered the ad under 17.3.1 and 17.3.4 rules of the BCAP Code but did not find any violation. According to the advertising watchdog, the character in Betfair Casino’s ad seemed only momentarily occupied with gambling and there was no suggestion that gambling could be taken up as anything more than a leisure activity in the customer’s free time. As a result, the ASA ruled in favour of Betfair Casino and said that no further action on the TV gambling ad was necessary.
- Author
Olivia Cole
