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Ad watchdog hears first complaint under new wagering rules

The Advertising Standards Board has heard its first complaint under new rules governing wagering ads but has dismissed concerns that betting company William Hill asserts punters they can’t lose in its ads.

The Australian Association of National Advertisers brought in the new rules earlier this year aimed at making sure wagering companies were not making their ads appealing to children, with the ASB charged with handling complaints.

The complainant said the ad for William Hill, promoting a refund of bets if a horse finished second, was promoting the idea punter that punters could not lose.

“It ‘infers’ that you can’t lose!! Gambling is a bad enough problem in this country without this but it’s giving vulnerable people (and there are a lot of them) the idea that when you bet, you pretty much can’t lose!” the complaint said.

However, William Hill said the ad was made to compare its money-back policy with its competitors.

“William Hill rejects the assertion that the advertisement infers or states that you cannot lose from wagering,” the company said in its response.

“Money-back promotions offered by William Hill result in the refund of client’s bet stake in specific circumstances where a bet loses. For example, place a bet on a horse and if your horse loses but runs second you get your stake refunded. It does not follow that the advertisements suggest clients cannot lose from wagering.”

In dismissing the complaint, the ASB said the specific promotion did not imply that punters could not lose.

“The board noted that the advertisement does not make a claim that you will win, but that you will get money back if you lose, if the bet meets the conditions of the promotion,” it said.

“The Board considered that the advertisement did not infer that one cannot lose, as there are conditions attached, nor did the advertisement infer a promise of winning.”

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