SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has penalised NRR Entertainment Ltd and EU Lotto Ltd, after complainants challenged claims made in differing advertisements.
A website for the latter, www.lottoland.co.uk, stated “PowerBall £169 million,” featuring a number of tick boxes allowing customers to choose to enter draw on either the next Thursday or Sunday, and for one, two, four or eight weeks.
Receiving two complaints, it was “believed the jackpot total was subject to change depending on whether it was paid out in a single lump sum or in instalments,” with its misleading nature therefore questioned.
Responding EU Lotto stated that “their website, FAQs and terms and conditions referred to the options to take a lump sum or a 30-year annuity.
“They were satisfied that an explanation of the jackpot amount, how it was paid out and the difference between the lump sum and 30-year instalment options was explained between the terms and conditions, help and FAQs page, footers on the home page, information on the product pages and the comparator table of Powerball and Mega Millions.
“They said they were nevertheless willing to make changes to add further clarity.”
Upholding the complaints, the ASA noted a link leading to subsequent pages with relevant information, but questioned how the ad content could be viewed by consumers.
The ASA stated: “We considered it was not sufficient to state separately from the ad, via Help and FAQ links, material information that the jackpot value would always be reduced to take account of the tax that would be paid on the official lottery prize; that participants opting for the single lump sum rather than the 30-year term would receive a reduced amount – 60%, of the remaining balance after tax – and that, if the official PowerBall prize was split between more than one winner, the value quoted in the ad would be split in a similar way”
Ruling, the advert must not appear again in its current form, with EU Lotto told to ensure prize values or winnings clearly include information regarding any non-optional deductions, as well as information regarding its own pay-out system.
NRR Entertainment, trading as Slotty Vegas, also found themselves in hot water, with one individual questioning a claim on the www.slottyvegas.com website.
First seen on 13 December of last year, the words “OUR GAMES PAY MORE” were brought under the microscope, due to a potential misleading nature with a question mark also remaining over whether it could also be substantiated.
Explaining the comment, NRR Entertainment stated that it referred to a supercharged wins feature, provided information regarding that and the games under question, highlighted 2017 revenue figures both with the feature activated and without and also explained all information is available via a “read more” function on its website.
Upholding the complaint, the ASA reminded the firm to not use claims that cannot be substantiated, in addition to stating the ad must not appear again in its current form.
