Fluffy animals betting advertisement was careless, states guard dog

28 October 2020

A betting advert which featured fluffy animals has been prohibited after being branded "irresponsible" by the yohaig code 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 ad "was likely to be of specific interest under-18s" and for that reason "the ad was reckless".

The owner of Gala Spins stated it had actually removed the advert from all its channels.

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

It triggered a grievance to the marketing guard dog that the material of the advert was likely to appeal to children.

The ASA concurred and stated: "Gambling advertisements must not be likely to be of particular appeal to children or young adults, specifically by reflecting or being related to youth culture.

"We considered that the ad was most likely to be of particular interest under-18s and for that reason concluded that the advertisement was reckless and breached the [advertising] this promotion code."

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Gala Spins said it published the yohaig code video featuring packed animals in mistake and that it was an out-of-date video.

It stated its intended target audience was ladies aged between 18 and 65 interested in gaming.

Gala Spins was censured by the guard dog 2 years ago for linking gambling and ability in an advert.

Among 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 invitation to gamble online in the context of the advertisement, and for that reason suggested that viewers could utilize ability to improve their opportunities of winning.

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

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

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

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