Sportsbet harks back to Todd Carney ‘bubbler’ incident in ad for new app
Sportsbet has revisited the most notorious moment of controversial Rugby League player Todd Carney’s career in a campaign to promote its new iPhone betting app.
Carney was sacked by the Cronulla Sharks in 2014 after a photograph emerged in which he appeared to be urinating into his own mouth in an act referred to as a “bubbler”.
The Todd Carney incident
The Sportsbet ad shows Carney standing next to a replica of the Belgian Manneken Pis statue, a sculpture of a urinating boy. In the ad, the boy is urinating into his own mouth.
Referring to the app, the Sportsbet voiceover states “Even whizz kid Todd Carney can use it”, to which he replies “Yeah piece of p…”
Sportsbet’s GM of marketing Tim Hernadi said in a press release: “Everyone knows someone who has committed foolish acts or have found themselves in foolish situations. Who better than Todd Carney to help us launch our new iPhone app and we’re confident punters will agree,” Hernadi said.
The ads also takes aim at “permanently offended protestors”, featuring placard waving activists angry at the ease with which the app can be used.
The campaign is not the first time Sportsbet has turned towards disgraced sports stars. In 2017 it hired drugs cheat sprinter Ben Johnson, who was stripped of his Olympic Gold medal, to promote is app for Android phones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwD22vX9KSY
The Ben Johnson ad was later banned by the Ad Standards Board, with Sportsbet memorably arguing to the ASB that applying a “moral compass” to its work was irrelevant.
Earlier this year, AdNews reported that Sportsbet had cut its ties with creative agency BMF to take most of its creative work in-house. A spokesman for Sportsbet told Mumbrella the ad was a collaboration between creative agency Emotive and production house Finch.
That’s good now get Todd back on the football field wear he belongs maybe the Tittans.?
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In-house work is usually a great reminder of the value created by agencies..and this masterpiece is no different.
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Good on those involved.
You’ve really made something of yourselves!
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LOL, Titans…… Apologies for the bad reference but he will be peeing his already tumultuous career up the wall by going there. Maybe send him to the Tigers if Benji retires
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Any client who is thinking “should I take my advertising inhouse?” should watch this ad…
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This ad hits their market perfectly and is very funny… can’t believe the haters here who think agency work is better than in house work… this site is overwhelmed by the amount of junk served up by agencies
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lmao, that’s Gold maaaate! Right on the money.
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Now I know why most people still bet with TAB
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Great ad. So funny. Welcome back, Todd.
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The twitter storm will soon surround this. And who really cares, it’s a great ad that hits the target right between the eyes. Piece of p**s really.
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Brilliant as always from Sportsbet.
1. They get their target audience to a tea
2. Their use irreverent humour beautifully
3. They do not give a toss about anyone they may possibly offend
Some of the haters encouraging brands to go in-house with this as a case for reference should get their heads out of their backsides and go get some work off the back of your own creative ingenuity. Or stick to conservative advertising that cause people’s eyes to roll out of the back of their heads. As an agency creative partner I can only sit back and applaud yet again.
No surprise they are Australia’s largest online sports betting company. Enough said.
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Brilliant work from the 5-year-old boy who’s head of Sportsbet’s in house marketing.
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So from reading the comments of the pro brigade, I am assuming that Sportsbet is used by big and and that is why this ad hits its target market right between the eyes?
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Absolutely p****d my self laughing at this add sportsbet have passed the pubtest with this one
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Is it me, or do others find the glorification of gambling quite pathetic? I would be happy to see no gambling adverts on any form of media.
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I fail to understand why you would use an offensive foolish act by a silly man who thumbed his nose at his opportunities many times, a sad woman being scammed and all promoting a business that takes peoples hard earned money.
Shame on you. But I guess that is just your standards. Sad.
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Absolutely nailed it, Sportsbet. Perhaps pinching a now-defunct competitor’s ease of use positioning but an entertaining and on-brand ad that will resonate with punters and pushes across a key consumer benefit.
Bravo.
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100%. They’re a standout in Oz. Consistent in their unique, cheeky style and it works.
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Small things amuse small minds. Consistently backing disgraced sportsmen is a reflection of the nature of the directors of Sportsbet – as they are condoning the disgraceful and insulting behavior of these sportsmen. All they are interested in is making profits, while seemingly having no shame of “taking a piss on” the general public. What example is this setting for the younger generations? The ad clearly appeals to people with low intelligence, with minds in the gutter, and having a perverted sense of humour ….. honouring disgraced sportsmen will drag you further into that piss filled gutter where you belong. It’s so easy, you need no intelligence to throw your money away on betting, and no intelligence at all to piss on your self. Creating this ad — well no intelligence to create that – at all.
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Carney and teammate Steve Irwin lead Canberra police on a car chase before Carney abandons the car and flees. Carney is charged with drink driving and reckless driving, failing to stop when directed by police, negligent driving and driving while disqualified. He receives a suspended jail sentence
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Handed 200 hours of community service for pursuit and driving while his licence was suspended. Magistrate warns Carney he will “undoubtedly go to jail” if he commits another offence.
July 2008
Carney allegedly urinates on a patron at a Canberra pub, however the complaint is withdrawn. He is, however, stood down indefinitely.
January 2010
Carney and a second man allegedly injure another man by deliberately setting his pants on fire. The man suffered burns to his buttocks, upper thigh and genitalia.
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The Foolish man did it to himself, sad woman or gullible and nobody makes anyone bet their hard earned money, its a choice they make
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Couldn’t agree more !
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Add is disgusting very poor advertising. How low do you want to go ??
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To any of the people in the comment section slating the advertisement as low brow etc you just have absolutely no bloody idea about their target audience and how even my whiny permanently offended twats (like said Vegans in ad) you tools are actually helping with the publicity and making the advertising campaign even more relevant! It’s bloody brilliantly, funny and most Australians with a sense of humour and a pulse would agree! Congrats on the ad, well done Todd for being able to have a laugh at yourself (albeit for financial gain), and keep up the cutting edge stuff and offending some of these PC fairies ??
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Poor taste that Sportsbet would again seek to entertain/attract small minded, uneducated people who laugh at antics such as this. Its a very poor example to young people today when they are glorifying and endorsing the antics of this individual who threw away a football career through lack of common sense.
Great role model!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Glorifying and endorsing? They’re having a laugh at his expense!
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The theme is one thing, I just don’t like that Todd has completely sold himself out. Everyone that actually enjoyed this ad is laughing at him…not with him. It’s sad.
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What a joke what are we teaching our young people these days piss in your face and get paid for it but it’s okay if you’re a footballer if I pissed in my face in public I’d be locked up wake up you fkn morons
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What a load of shit
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Love love love the woman waiting for her African prince. Your ads are fantastic and I don’t bet just love your sense of humour. Refreshing ads really appreciate the effort.
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I find this really funny! Shitty but funny! lol
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