Poll: Has Paddy Power gone too far with Pistorius trial betting?
Irish operator has sparked controversy by accepting bets on the trial's verdict
Paddy Power sparked controversy last week when it began accepting bets on the verdict of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial, which started in Johannesburg this morning.
The Irish operator has since been the target of further complaints after it promoted the one-off market by launching an ad campaign to coincide with Sunday night’s Academy Awards, headlined ‘It’s Oscar time’.
Paddys later revealed losing bets would be refunded if the Paralympian is found not guilty as part of an offer dubbed ‘money back if he walks’, and a number of complaints have been received by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Pistorius, whose legs were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, is accused of murdering Reeva Steenkamp. The South African athlete claims he mistook her for an intruder.
Anti-domestic violence action groups Everyday Victim Blaming and Men Against Violence have condemned the campaign and encouraged further complaints to be lodged with the ASA.
Paddy Power is renowned for its PR stunts and has established a ‘mischief department’ tasked with coordinating events similar to those that have seen Danish footballer Nicklas Bendtner display a pair of Paddy Power pants at the 2012 European Championships.
This week’s eGaming Review poll asks whether offering betting on the trial oversteps the mark, or whether Paddy Power’s mischievous persona means it shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Have your say on the right-hand side of the page.