Sportsbet ad pulled after showing excess gambling and dangerous driving
Complaint made to Ad Standards after operator’s video showed people watching Sky Racing via the Sportsbet app while operating a golf buggy
A Sportsbet ad has been removed from social media channels and TV after being reported to Australia’s Ad Standards for promoting dangerous driving and excess gambling.
The advert sees a man watching racing on his phone while driving a golf buggy on a golf course.
A voice-over is heard saying: “Nobody does it easier than Tee Time Tim Callaghan. He streams Sky Racing on the Sportsbet app.
“All while tackling the Southern Hemisphere’s scariest slice. Yep. Whether he’s driving a buggy or trying to dig one out of a bunker, this Sultan of swing doesn’t miss a second.”
Ad Standards, Australia’s advertising regulator, said the complaint noted the advert was encouraging people to use their phone while driving.
The complaint read: “I acknowledge the golf course is not a road however, the advertisement sends the wrong message about driving and road safety.”
Sportsbet responded by saying the ad showed a group of golfers playing the sport while “occasionally” using the Sportsbet platform to watch Sky Racing as the firm disagreed with the original complaint.
The operator noted that at no point during the ad is someone watching Sky Racing and driving a golf buggy at the same time or using a mobile phone, highlighting the character Tee Time Tim Callaghan was a passenger.
The Australian operator said: “The intent of the advertisement is to be portrayed as humorous and light-hearted and does not actually depict any person driving a golf buggy and watching Sky Racing at the same time or using a mobile phone (rather, the main character in the advertisement Tee Time Tim, is a passenger in a golf buggy).”
The Flutter-owned brand added that the spot did not promote “unsafe driving” given the “context relating to the kind of vehicle being used and where it is being driven”.
The panel considered whether the advert breached Section 2 of the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) Code of Ethics and the AANA Wagering Advertising and Marketing Communication Code.
The core issue related to potential breaches of the excess participation, and health and safety points of code.
The panel took into account the complainant’s initial message and the operator’s response and, after watching the ad, found that Sportsbet had breached the code.
In its explanation, the panel said the voice-over “described” and gave the “overall impression” that the character was watching his phone while driving – even if this was not the case in the ad.
The body added that while the advert didn’t show anyone actually placing a wager, the panel noted “it is unlikely that anyone would watch racing through a wagering app without having a bet on the outcome of the races” and that using a wagering app was considered wagering.
The panel said: “The panel considered that the advertisement depicted the man engaging in the wagering activity to an excessive degree, being unable or unwilling to put the phone down to play golf with his friends.
“The panel acknowledged that the depiction was exaggerated and was intended to be humorous, however considered that the overall message of the advertisement was that you shouldn’t ‘miss a second’ of racing.
“The panel considered that this was portraying, encouraging and condoning excessive participation in wagering activities.”
Sportsbet has since removed the video from all of its social media channels and said it has been discontinued.