Ladbrokes to appeal on ASA ban
9th January, 2009
Ladbrokes will appeal against the ASA's decision to ban their online casino advert. The company is one of the UK best known gambling brands and owns several hundred high street bookies.
The brand this week had a TV advert banned by ASA for portraying gambling in an "act of toughness". The advert showed a character swimming with sharks implying he was a risk taker and tough. However Ladbrokes argue that the ad is simply in the context of humour and that the decision is "political correctness gone too far"
John O'Reilly, Managing Director for Ladbrokes Remote Betting and Gaming said in a statement 'Ladbrokes fully supports the code of practice relating to gambling advertising but this ruling is an example of political correctness going too far,”
He went on to say, “We believe the ads are compliant as they are humorous and show people in fantastical situations to which no one would aspire. Consumers know that you cannot jump from a plane using a 30 gram pack of crisps as a parachute.”
M&C Saatchi were the agency used by Ladbrokes and the ad was critically acclaimed by many in the gaming and advertising industry.
By Jamie
