TonyBet’s Youtube advert pulled after Irish complaints
TonyBet has had a Youtube advert in Ireland pulled after authorities found it glorified gambling and presented it as a way to financially benefit.
The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASA) upheld a complaint against a YouTube advert from the sports betting and casino operator, ruling that the content breached the country’s advertising codes by depicting gambling as a potential source of income.
The ad in question showed a woman holding a baby with on-screen text stating “It’s hard to pay my rent and take care of my babies,” followed later by text claiming “But I made $8,500 last month.”
ALSO READ: Gambling in Ireland
The ASA’s Complaints Council concluded the TonyBet advertisement strongly suggested gambling was financially beneficial, potentially encouraging risky behaviour by implying gambling could resolve personal or financial difficulties.
Two complainants objected to the advert, with one arguing it depicted gambling as a way to earn money, and the other saying it targeted vulnerable individuals and perpetuated dangerous stereotypes that might increase gambling-related harm. The council noted the ad breached multiple sections of the advertising code, including those that prohibit portraying gambling as socially responsible or capable of solving financial problems.
TonyBet responded by immediately withdrawing the non-compliant advertisement and attributed its publication to human error by a third-party affiliate partner that had failed to follow internal compliance review procedures. The operator said it was committed to adhering to industry advertising standards and had taken steps to tighten its internal review process, increasing approval steps and organising additional compliance training.
Under the ASA’s ruling, the advertisement must not reappear in its current form. The decision underscores ongoing scrutiny of gambling advertising in Ireland, where regulators have increasingly challenged content seen to normalise gambling or imply it can reliably generate income.
Rise of gambling influencers a global issue
Gambling influencers are everywhere at the moment, most of them fresh faced kids that were still a twinkle in their father’s eye when the World Gambling List team were losing their first dollar on the races.
Regulators around the world have largely been left with egg on their face, with websites like this one, for instance, not allowed to advertise bonus offers and free bets to certain places, while kids with smartphones ignore the rules and talk nonsense to often thousands of followers.
If more gambling regulators took a modern approach and licensed affiliates, including influencers, so everyone has a strong understanding of the laws and responsibilities they have.
