Fluffy animals betting ad was irresponsible, states watchdog

28 October 2020

A betting advert which included fluffy animals has actually been banned after being branded "irresponsible" by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The video ad for Gala Spins - part of the FTSE 100-listed gambling giant GVC Holdings - featured 5 toy animals.

The ASA ruled the advertisement "was likely to be of particular attract under-18s" and therefore "the yohaig code ad was careless".

the yohaig code owner of Gala Spins said it had actually eliminated the advert from all its channels.

the yohaig code paid-for Facebook post in August featured a video caption reading "it's a rollercoaster of cuteness" and a video showing "fluffy favourite" toy animals.

It prompted a grievance to the advertising guard dog that the material of the advert was most likely to appeal to children.

The ASA concurred and said: "Gambling ads must not be likely to be of specific interest children or young persons, specifically by reflecting or being connected with youth culture.

"We considered that the ad was most likely to be of specific appeal to under-18s and therefore concluded that the ad was reckless and breached the [advertising] yohaig promotion code."

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Gala Spins stated it published the video including packed animals in mistake which it was an out-of-date video.

It said its designated target audience was women aged between 18 and 65 thinking about betting.

Gala Spins was censured by the watchdog two years ago for linking gaming and ability in an advert.

One of its TV ads included a man playing on his tablet with a voiceover suggesting: "Try it now and see if you've got the talent."

The ASA ruled that the line "see if you've got the talent" was successfully an invite to bet online in the context of the advertisement, and for that reason implied that audiences might use skill to enhance their chances of winning.

Gala Spins becomes part of Gibraltar-based LC International which in turn is owned by GVC Holdings, which purchased Ladbrokes Coral in 2018.

Last year, GVC processed ₤ 11.2bn-worth of sports wagers through its different brands, including Bwin, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds International and Sportingbet.

It likewise owns a variety of games business including CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, Partypoker and PartyCasino.

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