SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Racing tipster Philip Murray felt the wrath of the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), after four complaints over a direct mail advert were upheld.
The ad in question, which first appeared in June 2018, stated: “Aren’t you sick and tired of constantly losing bet after bet? Isn’t it depressing that no matter what, you never achieve the profits you always hoped for? … Here’s a Guaranteed, Sure-fire Way to Literally CRUSH the Bookies While Exponentially Growing Your Bankroll…And Making Betting on Horse Racing Something Ridiculously Simple!”
It added: “But never fear you can still join us and profit immediately … I used to read these sales letters; tipsters making thousands in a day, driving Ferraris, paying off their mortgages and huge savings accounts and be so jealous I’d nearly puke. Now I’ve become one of them. You can turn around the downward trend in betting right now … Now for the final time ever I would like to offer an opportunity to join me for the SUPER TEXT BETS … but at a Very Special Price you can now join for … TWO YEARS £89 Saving You £411.”
The complainant challenged whether the advert was misleading and socially irresponsible as it detailed that there’s a ‘guaranteed, sure-fire way’ to win money from the bookies. They also questioned the legitimacy of the savings claims made by the tipster, as well as whether claims about depression caused by losing bets, paying off mortgages and turning around a downward trend in betting were socially irresponsible.
After Murray failed to respond to the complaint, something the ASA took as a disregard for the code, all four claims about the ad were upheld. The ASA told Murray the ad must not appear again in its current form. Telling him to ensure in the future that he did not make savings claims, guarantee consumers would make a profit using their service or make claims that they had previously given successful tips, without holding relevant evidence substantiation. It further referred the matter to the CAP compliance team.
