The UK Advertising Regulator Bans William Hill’s TV Ad
July 16th, 2008Author: Mark Newman
A TV campaign launched by William Hill has been banned by the UK advertising regulator.
The TV ad promoting the company’s online bingo featured a woman who hurried her husband to work by winding the clock forward. As soon as the man was out the door, the woman hurried to log onto William Hill bingo. The woman continued to play online bingo and moved the hands of the clock back saying: “Doesn’t time fly?”
The ad was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority on the grounds that it portrayed and condoned gambling behaviour that was socially irresponsible. Moreover, the ASA received seven complaints, in which viewers objected that the ad was harmful because it “depicted someone who was addicted to gambling and was attempting to hide that from their family by deception”.
William Hill didn’t agree saying that the ad had a humorous look and didn’t potray socially irresponsible behavior.
