Gambling Ads Spark Debate in the UK

The United Kingdom’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) halted a promotional campaign by Foxy Games because it suggested that engaging in slots and bingo could be a path to financial independence.

An individual lodged a grievance regarding a Google advertisement from Foxy Games that appeared in July 2020 while they were searching for ways to “generate income online.” The advertisement’s title proclaimed, “Generate Income Online – Foxy Games – Engage in Online Games.”

The complainant believed that Foxy Games was implying that wagering was a guaranteed method to attain financial stability. The ASA concurred, asserting that the phrase “generate income online” insinuated that consumers could earn a steady revenue stream through this avenue.

Foxy Games contended that the advertisement was an error and that they had removed it. Nevertheless, the ASA proceeded to prohibit the advertisement from ever being displayed again in its initial format.

Intriguingly, the ASA did not find fault with a comparable advertisement from Betfair. This televised advertisement depicted an individual placing a wager while hurrying to board a flight, accompanied by the slogan “where there’s an opportunity, there’s an opportunity.”

A viewer complained that the advertisement made wagering appear to be paramount in life because it showed a man gambling even when he was short on time. The ASA disagreed, stating that the man was not portrayed as being preoccupied with gambling, nor was it depicted as something he couldn’t live without.