Ladbrokes ad. to be scrutinised

[jetset]

FIRST TEST FOR TV GAMBLING ADS

Ladbrokes new television ad to be scrutinised...after four complaints!

The more liberal British policy toward the advertising of gambling venues already has its first case, reports the Guardian newspaper. A TV ad for Ladbrokes is the first campaign to be investigated by the advertising watchdog since betting advertising laws were relaxed last month.

The high-profile TV campaign, which features ex-footballers Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, Chris Kamara, Ally McCoist and Jimmy Hill is the first by a bookmaker since new rules under the Gambling Act 2005 came into force on September 1 - allowing sports betting ads to run around sports events.

The Advertising Standards Authority launched an investigation of the GBP 5 million national campaign, which runs with the strapline, "Everyone's got an opinion, what's yours worth?", after receiving four complaints.

Viewers complained that the use of footballing celebrities might encourage young people to gamble, and that the ad plays on "male bravado and peer pressure" and could also "influence vulnerable people".

It will be the first campaign the ASA has investigated to see if it breaks the TV advertising gambling code, which has been developed by the Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice.

A Ladbrokes spokesman said the company intended to "vigorously defend" its position and that the ad had not broken any rules.

The firm said the campaign was aimed at 18- to 34-year-old casual gamblers who bet occasionally on football rather than older betting shop customers who prefer to bet on racing.

[Casinomeister]

Just wait until Intercasino runs it "midget" ads. They're pretty funny - if you like midgets

[shaunm]

i've seen the midget adverts! Hilarious They must have had complaints surely? when kids see these people they might think 'I'm taller than that guy, maybe i can play at that casino'!

[noluckever67]

These people that complain are probably professional complainers however one thing that really annoys me is that a lot of kids will use msn messenger and the advertising of casino games with the words FREEMONEY there WILL attract attention to kids its well out of order and despite several emails to microsoft not one reply..as we all know gambling can be fun but with the explosive nature of online gambling kids must also be taught that its not all as simple as the FREEMONEY adverts make out.

[vinylweatherman]

These people that complain are probably professional complainers however one thing that really annoys me is that a lot of kids will use msn messenger and the advertising of casino games with the words FREEMONEY there WILL attract attention to kids its well out of order and despite several emails to microsoft not one reply..as we all know gambling can be fun but with the explosive nature of online gambling kids must also be taught that its not all as simple as the FREEMONEY adverts make out.

How about several E-mails to the DoJ

[Simmo!]

The Ladbrokes ads are excellent, far better than the midget ads IMO. There is a small minority out to stop gambling as we all know so all they have to do is complain at each ad and it will get some press, irrespective of how the ad is targetted. I agree the FREEMONEY thing on MSN is far worse.

The high-profile TV campaign, which features ex-footballers Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, Chris Kamara, Ally McCoist and Jimmy Hill

And Kirsty Gallagher