Advertising Standards Authority Issues Warning to GB Sports Advisors Over Misleading Ad
This week, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) issued a formal warning to GB Sports Advisors, the overseer of the Geoff Banks Online brand, regarding a misleading advertisement. The ad in question failed to disclose critical conditions necessary to redeem a free bet, prompting a complaint from a customer.
Findings of the ASA Investigation
Upon investigation, the ASA found that the advertisement breached the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) code due to the omission of significant terms and conditions.
Specifically, the ad failed to mention that customers needed to respond to a text message by a specific time and place a bet within a certain period to qualify for the free bet.
The absence of these details led to the conclusion that the advertisement was misleading to consumers.
Official Statement and Rationale
In its official statement, the ASA highlighted the importance of these conditions, stating, “Those were significant conditions which were likely to affect consumers’ understanding of the promotion. We therefore considered their omission was likely to mislead.”
The ASA’s decision underscores the necessity for transparency in advertising, particularly in promotions that involve consumer incentives.
Response from the Operator
GB Sports Advisors contested the ASA’s findings, asserting that the conditions were made clear in the advertisement.
However, the ASA maintained its judgement, ruling that the ad cannot be broadcast in its current form. Moving forward, the operator is required to ensure all relevant conditions are explicitly included in promotional advertisements.
