Free Bet Banner Crackdown in the UK

http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudi...DJ_227363.aspx

The ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) are cracking down on the terminology used in sports betting banners in the UK, this example coming following a complaint against betting giant bet365's use of the term: "£200 FREE BETS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS … JOIN NOW", which can be seen web-wide and carries the previously acceptable "*Terms and Conditions Apply. See site for details" copy.

The ASA upheld the complaint that the ad was misleading, citing that full terms of the promotion were not listed on the ad or within one click, which is a stipulated guideline.

It will certainly change the way that bet365 utilise landing pages (they don't to all intents and purposes) and will no doubt have knock on effects for banner messaging and landing page content across the industry

Our own Compliance unit send this over to us as an FYI earlier today, seems that SpinPalace also received a similar judgement against them today.

Seems like the logical response to this would just be to have a landing page with terms and conditions available.

Isn't this generally the standard in the business?

Indeed Louis. bet365 just use their regular multi-product landing page for all links I believe. It's a case of where this will lead as there is certainly rhetoric in the rulings that would indicate the use of a notional "free" when there are depositing and wagering requirements attached might not be overlooked for long

didn't a while back they made them also add "*terms and conditions apply" to banners, although some never bothered

Gee, what are they expecting...."truth in advertising"?

They may go towards free actually having to be free. If a deposit has to be made, it isn't really free is it?

I wonder how the ASA feels about things like adding percentages of bonuses to come up with false bonus percentages.

Rick
Universal4

Now THIS is how to respond to an adjudication from the ASA!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...a-web-swearing

Love this quote:

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"We have thousands of craft beer fans who have invested in what we do and how we do it – they are the people we listen to – not the killjoy, self-important pen pushers at the ASA in their Burton suits. Those mother fuckers don't have any jurisdiction over us anyway."

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Rick
Universal4

Quote:

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Originally Posted by universal4

Love this quote:


Rick
Universal4

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That made me laugh as well

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Louis - Income Access

Seems like the logical response to this would just be to have a landing page with terms and conditions available.

Isn't this generally the standard in the business?

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I think most operators would comply either by displaying the terms on the landing page or homepage (I've seen people link to both). I'm interested in what happens when an affiliate takes a .gif banner and chooses to deeplink into another page? That's quite common, especially in casino products.