888 Italy criticised for online slots advert

The online gambling group Cassava-888 is not having a good week in its promotional activities. The British Advertising Standards Authority ordered the withdrawal of a Cassava online casino advert that did not adequately inform punters of the conditions of a free offer , and the company has become the first to feel the wrath of the Italian advertising authorities.

Italy’s newly constituted Advertising Self-Regulatory Court hauled 888 up on its television advert, which featured an online slots fan being showered with gold coins after a lucky late night hit. Despite the customary caveats in the presentation, the court rather tenuously associated this with an inappropriate comparison of gambling to financial planning.

888 still awaits the nature of its punishment, which has presumably already included taking the offending advert down. The regulations have provision for heavy fines against offenders.

This is the first prosecution under new Italian advertising restrictions introduced at the beginning of this year, with operators cautiously feeling their way around some not-very-specific guidelines.
 

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