Paddy Power’s ‘always bet on black’ ad condemned by ASA
Irish bookmaker warned to “avoid causing serious offence on grounds of race”
Paddy Power has been warned to avoid racially sensitive material in future by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after the watchdog condemned it’s ‘always bet on black’ Floyd Mayweather advert.
The press ad, which appeared in the Evening Standard and the Metro in the lead up to Mayweather’s Las Vegas bout with Conor McGregor, received nine complaints.
Nine people complained about the ad which was printed in the Metro and the Evening Standard
Paddy Power contested the ad was not intended to cause offence on the grounds of race as it was a roulette related pun and a reference to a Wesley Snipes quote in the 1992 film, Passenger 57.
The sportsbook operator also argued the campaign was approved by Mayweather, who found the line funny rather than offensive or derogatory.
The ASA ruled that readers would nevertheless be offended by the invitation to always bet on the outcome of a boxing match based on a boxer’s race, considering the boxing match was a fight between two different races.
A complaint was also made against bet365 for an advert that showed a skier on a remote mountain, at a rooftop bar, a beach bar and spectators at a stadium using the bet365 app.
The complainant felt the TV ad encouraged excessive gambling and challenged whether it was socially irresponsible.
The ASA ruled the ad emphasised the ability to watch sport on the app and did not portray gambling as indispensable, or taking priority in life over work and family. The complaint was not upheld.