Politician reminded that fox hunting is banned
Published on 20 August 2008
For a party which prides itself on its opposition to fox hunting the actions of one Liberal Democrat politician have surprised many.
The party’s culture spokesman, Don Foster, has failed in a bid to get an advertising campaign for Foxy Bingo banned after making a complaint to the advertising watchdog.
The ad campaign, which ran online and on TV, pushed an offer of "£10 free" with "no deposit required" as an enticement to sign up to the online bingo operator.
Foxy Bingo's TV ad, which featured the suave and sophisticated character Foxy singing to Sister Sledge's disco classic We Are Family, stated that the offer was for over-18s and that terms and conditions applied.
Foster lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority arguing that the use of the word "free" was misleading.
He said that the terms and conditions indicated that winnings resulting from bingo cards purchased with the "free" £10 were paid out only if there was a minimum of £30 in a Foxy Bingo account set up with a credit or debit card.
Foxy Bingo's parent company, Cashcade Ltd. said that the promotion did allow people to play with £10 completely for free with no obligations such as setting up an account.
However, to prevent abuse of the offer - meaning people simply withdrawing the free £10 instead of playing - players did have to have a minimum of £30 in an account and make a deposit in order to cash in on winnings.
The practice is common place within online gambling and breaks no laws.
Advertising clearance body Clearcast said that the free play claim did not omit any "significant conditions" in the ad.
The ASA concluded that the use of "free" was "appropriate for all customers in both ads and was unlikely to mislead in order for players to withdraw wins completely for free".
However, the ASA did rule against another gambling ad campaign, for Wink Bingo, which showed a midwife celebrating while at work at a maternity unit.
The ASA banned the ad, concluding that it condoned gambling in the workplace and suggested that it took priority over professional commitments.
Foxy himself had no comment to make but he was seen celebrating late into the evening in a top London nightclub!
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