Bingo Advertisement Banned by Watchdog
28th May, 2008
After seven complaints, William Hill’s TV advertisement has been banned by the advertising watchdog because they said it portrayed “socially irresponsible” gambling.
Entitled ‘Breakfast,’ the ad showed a couple at breakfast and the woman changed the time on the clock by moving the minutes hand so that her husband would rush off to work.
The woman then says, “I get mine the minute he’s out the door.” Following that, a voice-over says, “William Hill Bingo...a massive online community, when will you get your William Hill bingo thrill?”
After the husband leaves the woman is playing online and moves the hands on the clock back and says, “Doesn’t time fly.”
The Advertising Standards Authority thought the advertisement implied that the woman was so desperate to play bingo that she either couldn’t wait to get her fix or just wanted to keep it a secret from her husband. Either way, the ASA concluded, the advertisement condoned “socially irresponsible” gambling.
The ASA said the ad “portrayed and condoned gambling behaviour that could lead to financial, social or emotional harm.”
William Hill said the ad was merely a humorous scenario of a woman who wants her husband to leave so she can have the day to herself. They also said that it was meant to be a light-hearted portrayal of a woman who wanted to play bingo.
By Michael
