ASA or the Advertising Standards Agency has warned GB Sports Advisors Ltd, trading as Geoff Banks Online, over a betting advert.
A customer who was unable to redeem the promotion filed a complaint against the bookmaker. Moreover, the complainant challenged whether the advert breached the CAP or Committee of Advertising Practice code because of its omission of conditions.
Promotions must communicate all significant conditions that, if absent, would be misleading as stated by the CAP code.
Customers had to reply from a text from the bookmaker by a certain time to qualify for the free bet. By then, they had to place their free bet as well.
Nonetheless, the advert did not state that consumers would receive a text or that they needed to respond.
An ASA statement says that those were significant conditions which were likely to affect consumers’ understanding of the promotion. They therefore considered their omission was likely to mislead.
According to the ruling of ASA, they breached CAP code rules 8.2, 8.17.1, 8.17.4, and 8.17.4.a.
GB Sports Advisors disproves the complainant’s challenge. It says it believes all conditions are clear.
The advert read, “Bet on the Aintree Grand National and get a free £10 bet on the Scottish Grand National.
Geoff Banks will award a £10 free bet for use on the Scottish Grand National if you wager on the Aintree Grand National. Minimum qualifying wager is £10 win or £5 each way. Qualifying wager can win or lose.
Bets placed prior to 3pm on Saturday 13 April qualify for this offer. Previous free bets stakes awarded do not count as qualifying wagers. Free bet will be credited to your account by Saturday 20 April.
Eventually, the ASA states that “the ad must not appear again in the form complained of. We told GB Sports Advisors Ltd t/a Geoff Banks Online to ensure their future promotions included all significant conditions.
Recently, ASA targeted Festival Free Bets. It also provides horse racing offers, for using an under-25-year-old to market its deals.
