The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned ads from Betway, Kwiff and Sky Bet for using sporting figures or symbols. It said social media age data could not reliably establish how many under-18s might see the posts; Sky Bet said Gary Neville was long retired and had low appeal to minors.
The rulings affect how operators assess social media advertising against restrictions on content appealing to under-18s.
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The UK Advertising Standards Authority ruled that LEBOM’s gambling adverts breached advertising rules on social responsibility after showing betting alongside alcohol use and ridicule of a losing participant. LEBOM said the videos portrayed a realistic social setting and removed them after the investigation began; the ASA said they must not appear again in their current form.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority banned Ladbrokes TV and video-on-demand ads after ruling that the Ladbucks name and token imagery were likely to appeal strongly to under-18s. The ASA cited similarities to currencies and reward features in games popular with children; Ladbrokes disputed that the name had youth appeal.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint about a PokerStars Instagram advert featuring two influencers and banned it from being used again in its current form. Stars Interactive admitted the advert breached the CAP Code and said it removed it after complaints; the ASA said future adverts must not present gambling as investment or encourage socially irresponsible behaviour.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority found that adverts by Kwiff, Betway and Sky Bet were likely to appeal strongly to under-18s. It ordered Kwiff to remove or amend its post and told Betway and Sky Bet not to run their adverts again in the same form.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority ruled that a Betway YouTube advert and a Kwiff post on X breached advertising rules because their content could appeal strongly to under-18s. Betway disputed the complaint and cited its audience targeting; Kwiff said its post promoted sports commentary, while X said it was organic and not sponsored. The ASA found the age controls insufficient in both cases.