ASA Expected To Relax Position On Gambling Adverts

RGA director comments on Ladbrokes advertising incident.

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) believes that gaming firms will receive fairer treatment from the advertising authorities once they get used to regulating the industry.

Business director at the RGA Ben Wright said that recent sanctions taken by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) against Ladbrokes had been "extremely disappointing" for the gambling sector.

ASA has caused controversy in the industry by banning the bookmaker's latest promotional campaign for its online casino, which portrayed daredevil characters meeting their deaths.

With Ladbrokes set to appeal against the ban, Mr Wright said that ASA will eventually realise that gambling firms "don't pose any great threat" with their advertising.

"I'm sure they will relax their position," he said of ASA.

Mr Wright explained that the body is relatively inexperienced in regulating adverts for gambling firms, as they have only been doing so since September 2007.

"We would hope as an industry that they take a more pragmatic approach in the months and years to come," he added.