📺 Advertising Rulings

A recent advertisement for Match Bingo appeared on a YouTube channel featuring animated football content, claiming that players could win cash prizes by playing bingo during live football matches. A complaint was made because the ad seemed to target children, which could be harmful since gambling is for adults only. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) reviewed the situation and decided that the ad was not aimed at under-18s, so they took no action against Match Bingo. For gamblers, this means that the ad is considered acceptable, and they can continue to engage with such promotions without concern about targeting minors.

Dribble Media Ltd posted an ad featuring footballer Son Heung-Min celebrating with the Europa League trophy, claiming he won £8.10 from a small bet. The problem was that the ad could appeal to under-18s, which is against advertising rules for gambling. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint, deciding the ad was misleading and ordered that it should not be shown again. This ruling means that companies must be more careful about how they advertise to ensure they don't attract younger audiences to gambling.

The advertisement from William Hill claimed, "Enjoy £40 on us! When you opt in and stake £20," which suggested that you only needed to bet £20 to get the £40 bonus. However, the actual requirement was a minimum stake of £40, which was mentioned in small print but was misleading because the headline made it sound like £20 was enough. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the ad was misleading and ordered William Hill to stop using that wording in future promotions. For gamblers, this means they should be cautious and ensure they read the full terms and conditions, as misleading ads can lead to confusion about what is really required to qualify for offers.

Betway ran a YouTube ad featuring football fans wearing Chelsea FC gear, promoting their gambling services. The problem was that this ad could strongly appeal to kids and teens, which is against advertising rules for gambling. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint, meaning the ad can't be shown again in its current form, and they told Betway to avoid content that might attract under-18s in future ads. For gamblers, this means that ads will be more carefully monitored to ensure they don’t target younger audiences, which could help keep gambling away from minors.

Sky Bet ran an ad featuring Gary Neville discussing football predictions, which included their logo and a message saying it was sponsored by them. The problem was that the ad could appeal to younger viewers, which goes against rules meant to protect kids from gambling ads. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint and decided that the ad should not be shown again in its current form. For gamblers, this means that ads will be more carefully monitored to ensure they don't attract underage audiences, helping to promote responsible gambling.

Play’n GO Malta Ltd ran ads featuring cartoon characters like an Easter Bunny superhero and anime princesses to promote their casino games. The problem was that these ads were seen next to children's email inboxes, which could attract kids and make gambling seem appealing to them. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the ads were misleading and harmful, so they ordered Play’n GO to stop using such imagery in their ads. For gamblers, this means that future ads will likely be more responsible and less likely to appeal to younger audiences, which is a positive step for promoting safe gambling practices.

In May 2025, Mecca Bingo posted a fun puzzle on their Facebook page, asking followers to name Tom Hanks films using emojis as clues. A complaint was made, claiming that the use of emojis might attract younger audiences under 18, which could be seen as irresponsible for a gambling company. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) reviewed the situation and decided that the ad did not breach any rules, stating that the emojis used were not likely to appeal strongly to children. As a result, no further action was taken, meaning that Mecca Bingo can continue using similar types of social media engagement without restrictions.

Buzz Group Ltd posted an ad on Facebook featuring a cartoon figure of a woman labeled as an "action figure," along with bingo items like cards and a dabber. Some people complained that the ad might appeal to kids, which could be harmful since gambling is for adults only. The advertising authority looked into it and decided that the ad didn't strongly appeal to children, so no action was taken against Buzz Group. For gamblers, this means that the ad is considered acceptable and won't lead to any changes in how they see promotions from Buzz Bingo.

LiveScore Betting & Gaming ran ads on their LiveScore app that showed live football scores and betting odds. The problem was that these ads were seen in a version of the app meant for users under 18, which is against the rules since gambling ads shouldn't target young people. The advertising authority upheld the complaint and decided that these ads must not appear in the under-18 version of the app again. This means that gamblers, especially younger users, will now be better protected from seeing gambling promotions that are not suitable for them.

The advertisement from PokerStars showed two people competing in a casino, where one claimed to have "invested" £100 and quickly won a lot of money, giving the impression that winning was easy and guaranteed. The problem was that this portrayal could mislead viewers into thinking gambling is a safe way to make money, which can lead to irresponsible behavior and financial harm. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint and ruled that the ad must not be shown again, telling PokerStars to ensure future ads don't encourage harmful gambling behavior. For players, this means that ads should now be more responsible and not make gambling seem like a simple way to earn money.

A radio ad for Betfair promoted a game called Prize Pinball on their online casino. A complaint was made because the ad aired at a time when children might be listening, which raised concerns about promoting gambling to younger audiences. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) looked into the complaint but decided not to take any action, stating that the ad was targeted at adults and that most listeners were over 25. For gamblers, this means that while the ad was deemed appropriate, it highlights the ongoing scrutiny around how gambling ads are scheduled and who might hear them.

A recent advertisement from Ladbrokes promoted a rewards program called "Ladbucks," which were tokens that players could collect and use for free spins and bets. The issue was that the ads used language and imagery that could appeal strongly to young people, which is not allowed for gambling ads. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaints and ruled that the ads could not run again in their current form. This means that Ladbrokes will need to be more careful in how they advertise to ensure it doesn’t attract underage viewers, which is important for protecting younger audiences from gambling-related content.

SpinX Games Ltd ran ads for their social casino games, showing images of spinning wheels and slot machines, suggesting players could win real money. The problem was that these ads misled people into thinking they could win cash or prizes, even though the games only offered in-game rewards that couldn't be cashed out. The advertising authority upheld the complaint and ordered SpinX to stop using these misleading ads. For players, this means they should be more cautious and aware that these games are for entertainment only and don't offer real money winnings.

Dataverse Co. Limited ran ads for their game "Grand Cash Casino Slots" that suggested players could win real money and prizes, using phrases like "huge welcome bonus" and showing casino-like graphics. The problem was that the game is not a real gambling product; players can only win virtual rewards, not cash or tangible prizes. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints about these ads, ruling that they were misleading and ordered Dataverse to stop using them. As a result, players should be more cautious and understand that this game does not offer real gambling opportunities, despite the ads suggesting otherwise.

Huuuge Global Limited ran ads for their social casino game "Billionaire Casino" that suggested players could win real money and prizes, even showing a person claiming they bought a Tesla after playing the game. The problem was that the game doesn't actually allow players to win or cash out real money or tangible prizes, which made the ads misleading. The advertising authority upheld a complaint against these ads, ruling that they must not run in their current form again. This means players should be more cautious and understand that while the game is fun, it doesn't offer real-world winnings like traditional gambling does.

Mobee Co Ltd ran ads for their social casino game, Ignite Classic Slots, claiming players could win big money without spending any real cash. The problem was that these ads misleadingly suggested that players could win real money, which is not true since the game doesn’t offer cash prizes. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint and ordered Mobee to stop running these ads in their current form. This means that players should be more cautious and understand that while the game is free to play, it doesn’t provide real monetary rewards.

A recent advertisement for Coral showed a man dressed for a horse racing event, promoting their services on mobile billboards during the Cheltenham Festival. A complaint was raised because the billboards were parked near two schools, which raised concerns about targeting young people. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) looked into the issue and decided that Coral had followed the rules by keeping the billboards far enough away from schools and only displaying them after school hours. As a result, no further action was taken, meaning gamblers can continue to see these ads without restrictions in similar locations.

The advertisement from Festival Free Bets featured a young woman, Astrid Wett, at the Cheltenham racecourse, promoting their betting offers. The problem was that she was only 23 years old, which goes against rules that say people under 25 shouldn't be prominently featured in gambling ads because it could encourage younger audiences to gamble. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint, ruling that the ad was irresponsible and ordered Festival Free Bets to stop using similar ads in the future. For gamblers, this means that companies must be more careful about who they feature in their promotions, helping to ensure that gambling messages are more responsible and aimed at appropriate audiences.

A recent TV ad for the People’s Postcode Lottery featured Emma Willis, promoting a chance to win a huge prize fund of £17.3 million by signing up with your postcode. Some people complained that Emma, who has hosted shows aimed at younger audiences, might appeal to kids and could encourage them to participate in gambling. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) looked into this but decided that the ad was not likely to attract under-18s, so they took no action against the company. For gamblers, this means the ad can continue running as is, without restrictions.

The advertisement from Geoff Banks Online promised a £10 free bet on the Scottish Grand National if you placed a bet on the Aintree Grand National. However, it failed to clearly mention important details, like the need to respond to a text message by a specific deadline to qualify for the free bet. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint about this misleading information and ruled that the ad could not be used again in its current form. As a result, gamblers can expect future promotions to be clearer about the conditions to avoid confusion and ensure they know how to participate.

A recent TV ad for Bet MGM featured comedian Chris Rock promoting their sports betting services, claiming they know how to put on a show and encouraging safe play. Some people complained that Chris Rock might appeal to younger viewers and that the ad could be misleading. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) reviewed the complaints but decided not to take any action, stating that Chris Rock's adult-focused career made him unlikely to attract under-18s. For gamblers, this means that the ad will continue to run as is, without any changes or restrictions.

A TV ad for Lucky Cow Bingo featured a dancing cow promoting the website and offering up to 500 free spins. Some people complained that the ad might appeal to kids, which could be harmful since gambling ads should not attract under-18s. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) looked into the complaint but decided the ad was not likely to appeal to children and took no further action. For gamblers, this means that the ad will continue to run, and they can expect to see similar promotions without restrictions aimed at protecting younger audiences.

Zeroo Gravity Games LLC ran ads for their social casino games, claiming players could win huge amounts of virtual coins in just a few spins, which made it sound like real gambling. The problem was that these ads misled people into thinking they could win real money or prizes, which they couldn't. The advertising authority upheld the complaint, deciding the ads were misleading and ordered Zeroo Gravity to stop using that messaging. As a result, players should be aware that these games are just for fun and don't offer real cash rewards, so they should play responsibly.

A TV ad for Happytiger Bingo featured a man who looked young and was described as a "postgraduate student," talking about how fun the bingo games are. The problem was that the ad gave the impression he was under 25 years old, which is against the rules for gambling ads. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint and decided the ad couldn't be shown again in its current form. This means that gamblers can expect future ads to follow stricter rules about who can be featured, helping to ensure that young people aren't encouraged to gamble.

Buzz Bingo ran an ad on Facebook promoting "Monster Mondays," where they claimed £50,000 would be given away every Monday in October, featuring fun Halloween-themed animations. The problem was that the ad used cartoon imagery that could appeal to children, which is against advertising rules for gambling. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint and ordered Buzz Bingo to stop using this type of content in their ads. For gamblers, this means that ads will be more carefully monitored to ensure they don't attract underage audiences, helping to promote responsible gambling.