In hot water
While PokerStars is best known for being one of the most popular peer-to-peer poker sites in the world, it also has an online casino that it’s trying to grow. One of the recent ads for this offering was deemed irresponsible by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The pair played ten spins on an online slot to see who would win more
The video posted to the Flutter Entertainment brand’s Instagram account featured Adam McKola and Rory Jennings, who are influencers mainly focused on soccer content. The pair played ten spins on an online slot to see who would win more with their ￡100 ($129) total stake.
Giving the wrong impression
During the video, they had some decent wins of ￡100 ($129) and ￡185 ($239), and McKola told Jennings to warm his finger up when asked for inspiration for getting better results. The ASA said this implied that simple actions or luck could contribute to big wins.
ended the challenge with a total of ￡862 ($1,116) between them
They ended the challenge with a total of ￡862 ($1,116) between them, and the ASA believed the footage gave a “false sense of guaranteed success.”
One of the most troublesome remarks came at the end of the footage when Jennings told the camera, “Can you believe that? I invested ￡100 and five minutes later, ￡240 because of my skill at slots.” Gambling operators can’t frame their games as a form of investment.
Holding its hands up
The ASA received a complaint from a single individual, and PokerStars admitted to breaching the CAP Code. It also gave additional training to staff members about the advertising standards they need to meet.
ASA warned PokerStars to be careful with future campaigns
Off the back of this “socially irresponsible” ad, the ASA warned PokerStars to be careful with future campaigns, emphasizing that marketing messages “should not trivialize gambling, encourage frequent and repetitive participation, or describe gambling as an investment.”