Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
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Ladbrokes has been sanctioned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upon an irresponsible gambling advertisement.

The complaint was filed over the ad depicting a wan saying “Come starter’s orders, I’m a bag of nerves” while watching horse racing from a distance.

The ASA body ruled that the ad amounts to socially irresponsible ad as it reflected gambling behaviour.

Ladbrokes, in its defense, stated that the man did not talk about betting or gambling in anyway.

However, the ASA upheld the complaint, stating that ads must not portray, condone or encourage gambling behaviour that was socially irresponsible, with the ad in question breaching Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code rules 16.1 and 16.3.1.

As per Gambling Insider, a statement from the ASA read: “Marketers should take care to avoid an implication of such behaviours, for instance, outwardly light-hearted or humorous approaches that could be regarded as portrayals of those behaviours. Behaviours associated with people displaying or at risk from problem gambling included detachment from surroundings and preoccupation with gambling.”