Nanny pulls the Plug on Ladbrokes Casino Humour

Well wrap the British television viewing public up in bubble wrap, put cotton wool in their ears and blindfold them as they cannot be exposed to anything slightly humorous, or that may expose them to any kind of risk taking or heaven forbid that might even hint at any gambling activity as anything other than un-enjoyable! If you believe the above is an extreme scenario then read the recent ASA Adjudication which has been upheld against Ladbrokes Casino.

Ladbrokes online Casino has had two advertisements banned by the ASA due to a single complainant who argued ‘the ads portrayed gambling in a context of toughness or linked it to risk taking and reckless behaviour’. The Ladbrokes online Casino ads that featured a diver in a seal costume diving with sharks with raw bacon and sausages attached to his suit and another featuring a parachutist who used a 30g empty crisp packet as a parachute, were made by the advertising agency M&C Saatchi and reportedly cost £1.5m to produce. The ads were intended to be humorous and were carefully produced so as to not actually show any form of gambling activity, featuring instead ridiculous fictitious events that could not possibly be taken seriously.

It seems completely unreasonable that the ASA would ban the Ladbrokes online Casino adverts which from any perspective do not show ‘risk taking’, ‘toughness’ or ‘reckless behaviour’ in any form of casino activity, nor is a casino actually shown. The advertisements are almost cartoon -like in the portrayal of the thrills the fictional characters are seeking and surely the viewing public are not so fragile that they are in extreme danger from such ludicrous scenarios as featured in this campaign. Ladbrokes are intending to appeal the decision and let’s hope the ASA has a reality check by then and this ban is lifted as it is without doubt ridiculous in its severity.