ASA BANS BETFAIR GAMBLING ADVERT
18 September 2009
Banned for implying 'irresponsible' underage
betting
A controversial Betfair gambling advert has been banned
by the Advertising Adverts Authority (ASA) for
‘encouraging’ underage gambling.
The
advertisement, distributed by e-mail, showed a picture
of a young woman with the tagline “Online experience is
measured in games, not years. Join the new breed.
Annette_15”.
Poker fans will know that
“Annette_15” is the online handle of 20 year old poker
champion, Annette Obrestad.
Pokerati reports that
the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld the
complaint made about the advert, saying it "was likely
to have particular appeal to children and young people,
and that, by representing a successful young poker
player with the implication she was 15 years old, it
could encourage young people to gamble and was therefore
irresponsible". The ASA also ruled that provisions of
the code had been breached as it stated that no-one
under 25 years of age should be featured gambling in a
marketing communication, or playing a significant role.
In their response, Betfair said it "did not
target their marketing at under 18-year-olds". They also
said "Ms Obrestad was featured in the ad not because of
her age but because of her standing as a poker
professional and champion who had had a profound effect
on the game".
Despite this, Betfair have given
clear instructions to their marketing team to refrain
from using Annette Obrestad in UK consumer directed
marketing and apologized for the error.
Online Casino News Courtesy of
Infopowa
More news here.
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