The United Kingdom’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) agreed with a customer who reported that a Betway promotion for a complimentary wager was deceptive. The advertisement, appearing earlier this year, proclaimed “Wager £30 Receive £30 Complimentary Wager.” The individual who filed the complaint believed it was not transparent about the requirement to deposit the same sum to obtain the complimentary wager.
Betway acknowledged that the advertisement lacked clarity, despite stating that the complete terms and conditions were accessible. They have since revised the advertisement to be more upfront regarding the mechanics of the offer, specifically that it involves a matched deposit. They also pledged to prevent similar situations in the future.
Essentially, the ASA stated that while the advertisement emphasized a “£30 Complimentary Wager,” it failed to explicitly convey that this amount was contingent upon an initial deposit of £30 of the customer’s own funds. They deemed this information crucial to highlight. Due to the advertisement creating the impression that the complimentary wager was a guaranteed £30, and its omission of this vital detail, the ASA ruled it misleading.
The advertisement, in its original form, is prohibited from further circulation, and the ASA instructed Betway that future advertisements for complimentary wagers must unequivocally state whether the complimentary wager amount is linked to the customer’s deposit amount.
Adjustments to Betway’s promotional materials are possible, a positive aspect to note.
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