This month, the Advertising Standards Authority has been publishing its latest rulings regarding customer complaints. While the companies and organisations that have been investigated represent a range of niches as diverse as life insurance and e-cigarettes, two are linked to well-known British gambling brands, Paddy Power and Sky Bet.
Why were complaints made?
The ASA published its ruling on the Paddy Power complaints on 8th February 2023 after determining that the complaints it received should not be upheld.
There were two complainants in the case who took issue with two separate TV ads for Paddy Power that were shown last November.
The first ad offered viewers a “completely free bet builder on all England games” and feature the ex-England football player, Peter Crouch. The second advert also starred Peter Crouch and used a Christmas theme. Both ads used the slogan “Where were you in ’22?” as a push to get viewers to get behind the England World Cup team while also celebrating Christmas.
The complainants’ issue with the adverts regarded Peter Crouch’s appearance, which they felt made the ads strongly appealing to minors and, therefore, breached the advertising standards code.
Not down with the youth!
Paddy Power challenged the complaints by pointing out that Peter Crouch’s last appearance as a footballer for the England national team was in 2010, meaning that his popularity among under-18s had waned. As a 40-year-old, the sports betting brand believed that older viewers were more likely to relate with Peter than youngsters.
The ASA agreed with Paddy Power’s arguments and felt that the complaints should not be upheld.
The ASA’s ruling on a promoted tweet for Sky Bet was also published on 8th February. This time, the image featured the former English footballer Micah Richards and an offer for “£20 in free bets when you place a £5 bet”.
Again, the ad garnered two separate complaints that related to a high-profile footballer’s appearance making the ad more appealing to under-18s.
Sky Bet responded to the ASA by saying that Micah Richards left the Premier League in 2015 and that he has spent most of his time since at overseas clubs. It added that the star is now commonly recognised as a football pundit rather than a former England player and that the tweet had been specially targeted at adults and not children.
The ASA concluded that the ad was not overly appealing to young people or children and, therefore, did not uphold the complaints.
Advertiser Disclosure: When you use WhichBingo, there are never any hidden fees or costs. To help fund our work we may earn a referral commission if you create an account via our site. This commission never impacts the impartiality of our reviews and ratings.
18+. New players only. Deposit £10 to get £60 bonus. Deposit and spend £10 on bingo tickets within 30 days of joining Paddy Power Bingo using a valid debit card or Apple Pay. 1/customer. Get £60 paid as Bingo Bonus (1x wagering requirement) when you register via the code PINTV6. Full T&Cs apply.
Grab your dabbers bingo fans, the WhichBingo Awards 2026 are officially on the horizon. Now in our 13th year, the WhichBingo Awards are all about recognising the sites, games, venues, and people that players love. Winners are chosen through a mix of player votes, editorial insight, and expert opinion. From the bingo sites you keep coming back to, to the chat teams that make every session more fun, this is your chance to have your…
Our social star Charlie Shakespeare has been out on the road filming a brand-new, three-part documentary series, Inside Real Fun Group, taking us behind the scenes at three very unique bingo clubs. Different club names. Different looks. Same great game of bingo. The trailer for episode one goes live this Thursday at 5pm. Read on for the inside scoop. Who Is the Real Fun Group? As one of the UK’s largest independent bingo club…
Welcome to The Re-View, where we look back at the trends, the triumphs, and the top-tier sites that defined the year for UK bingo and casino. We took 100% real player data to answer the questions like: What is the most popular day of the year for bingo? Which bingo site was everyone talking about? Editor’s Note: Play Smart, Play Safe We love the thrill of the “Full House” and…
Bingo news that’s literally hot-off-the-press? Yes please. We’re excited to share with you that next year you’ll be able to dab and spin on a whole new platform! ITV Win is entering the real-money online bingo and casino space. Yes, the same people who bring us This Morning, The Chase, and Coronation Street are gearing up to launch “ITV Win Bingo & Spins”. Right now, ITV Win is ITV’s online competitions hub, where…
Grab your dabbers bingo fans, the WhichBingo Awards 2026 are officially on the horizon. Now in our 13th year, the WhichBingo Awards are all about recognising the sites, games, venues, and people that players love. Winners are chosen through a mix of player votes, editorial insight, and expert opinion. From the bingo sites you keep coming back to, to the chat teams that make every session more fun, this is your chance to have your…
Your chances of walking away with real cash from a casino bonus are set to improve significantly. New UK regulations are putting an end to unfairly high wagering requirements. From 19th January all casino sites must adhere to a 10x maximum wagering cap on bonus offers, following a landmark ruling by the Gambling Commission. Editor’s Note: Though your ability to convert bonus into real cash is improving, gambling is still…
Kenny Rogers was right. “If you’re gonna play the game, you gotta learn to play it right”. It’s Safer Gambling Week so we’re taking you back to school to teach you how your brain tricks you when you gamble – and what you can do to play smarter (and safer). 3. The Gambler’s fallacy Perhaps one of the best known terms in gambling. The gambler’s fallacy is the mistaken belief…
Anyone accessing gambling sites or visiting gambling venues this week will see traditional marketing taken down in favour of Safer Gambling posters, but does anyone actually notice – and more importantly does anyone actually care? conversations we are often reluctant to have From every angle I believe strongly that Safer Gambling Week is a vitally important campaign designed to raise awareness of safer gambling and to open up conversations that…
Grab your dabbers bingo fans, the WhichBingo Awards 2026 are officially on the horizon. Now in our 13th year, the WhichBingo Awards are all about recognising the sites, games, venues, and people that players love. Winners are chosen through a mix of player votes, editorial insight, and expert opinion. From the bingo sites you keep coming back to, to the chat teams that make every session more fun, this is your chance to have your…
Your chances of walking away with real cash from a casino bonus are set to improve significantly. New UK regulations are putting an end to unfairly high wagering requirements. From 19th January all casino sites must adhere to a 10x maximum wagering cap on bonus offers, following a landmark ruling by the Gambling Commission. Editor’s Note: Though your ability to convert bonus into real cash is improving, gambling is still…
Every December, game studios unwrap their festive releases. Cue games with Santa and jingling soundtracks. We’ve tested the newest and most popular Christmas slot games, checked the small print, and brought together the ones that genuinely stand out. In true WhichBingo style, here’s your honest guide to the best Christmas slot games 2025. What they do well, who they suit, and where to play them safely. The 6 Best Christmas Slot…
Kenny Rogers was right. “If you’re gonna play the game, you gotta learn to play it right”. It’s Safer Gambling Week so we’re taking you back to school to teach you how your brain tricks you when you gamble – and what you can do to play smarter (and safer). 3. The Gambler’s fallacy Perhaps one of the best known terms in gambling. The gambler’s fallacy is the mistaken belief…
Your chances of walking away with real cash from a casino bonus are set to improve significantly. New UK regulations are putting an end to unfairly high wagering requirements. From 19th January all casino sites must adhere to a 10x maximum wagering cap on bonus offers, following a landmark ruling by the Gambling Commission. Editor’s Note: Though your ability to convert bonus into real cash is improving, gambling is still…
Kenny Rogers was right. “If you’re gonna play the game, you gotta learn to play it right”. It’s Safer Gambling Week so we’re taking you back to school to teach you how your brain tricks you when you gamble – and what you can do to play smarter (and safer). 3. The Gambler’s fallacy Perhaps one of the best known terms in gambling. The gambler’s fallacy is the mistaken belief…
Anyone accessing gambling sites or visiting gambling venues this week will see traditional marketing taken down in favour of Safer Gambling posters, but does anyone actually notice – and more importantly does anyone actually care? conversations we are often reluctant to have From every angle I believe strongly that Safer Gambling Week is a vitally important campaign designed to raise awareness of safer gambling and to open up conversations that…
It may be Halloween but we’re officially saying goodbye to some financial frights in the world of gambling. A significant set of new measures are set to boost the clarity, and ease of use for gambling deposit limits. And there is proven evidence that changes like this will help. The core goal of these improvements is to increase consumer empowerment. Here is what these changes mean for your experience, starting…
celebrate the final week of the hit reality show The Traitors If you’re a Traitors fan you’re in for a treat, because our friends at Mecca Bingo prepare to host a series of special Traitors Bingo events to celebrate the dramatic final week of the hit BBC reality show. With the fourth series drawing to a close this Friday, excitement is palpable (or maybe that’s just here at WBHQ?) The…
It’s time to face facts. There are only two, yes two, episodes remaining and The Traitors is entering its most dangerous phase yet. The prize pot towards that £120,000, alliances are still forming and tightening, and the margin for error inside the castle has never been smaller. After three weeks of banishments, murders, and twists including the now-infamous Secret Traitor the final stretch is less chaos, more emotional pressure. As…
As The Traitors moves deeper into Week 3, former Traitor Paul Gorton tells WhichBingo that while one major decision has now been made, the wider consequences are only just beginning to take shape. Spoiler alert! If you haven’t watched Series 4 Episode 7 aired on Wednesday 14th Jan, you might want to do it now. “One moment changed everything, but the damage doesn’t land all at once”. “The fallout is…
Former Traitors contestant Paul Gorton has been closely watching the latest season unfold and with the introduction of the secret Traitor twist, he believes the game has entered one of its most dangerous phases yet. Speaking to WhichBingo, Paul breaks down what’s happened so far, why certain players are now at serious risk, and whether the twist actually works. What has happened so far in the season? The current season…
by
Killian Morris
4min
Updated October 16, 2024
Anita Heffernan
Author & Former Editor
The Bingo Queen is a fun name earned from colleagues through Anita Heffernan's exceptional knowledge and commitment to the online bingo world. With over 20 years of experience as both a player and an expert in the industry, Anita has built a reputation as a trusted authority on all things bingo.
3min 
Reader comments