SpinX Games Ltd, Dataverse Co Limited, Huuuge Global Limited, Mobee Co Ltd, and Zeroo Gravity Games LLC faced a significant setback recently.
The regulatory authority has officially banned advertisements from these prominent casino game developers.
This move indicates a tightening of regulations around online casino ads.
Misleading social casino game ads on TikTok
All scrutinized ads on TikTok were paid marketing and failed to clearly indicate they were social casino games. This misled consumers into believing they could win real-world money. For example, Zeroo Gravity Games’ Cash Tornado app displayed slot gameplay visuals with matching sound effects. The ASA ruled that language like “hitting the jackpot” was associated with gambling, potentially misleading bettors.
In a significant regulatory update, five companies have been found in violation of the UK Code for Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code). Specifically, these companies breached rules 3.1 and 3.3.
Details of breaches
| Company | Breached Rules |
|---|---|
| Company A | 3.1, 3.3 |
| Company B | 3.1, 3.3 |
| Company C | 3.1, 3.3 |
| Company D | 3.1, 3.3 |
| Mobee | 3.1, 3.3, 1.7 |
Mobee further violated rule 1.7 by failing to respond to ASA enquiries.
ASA bans misleading casino game ads, TikTok takes action
The ASA has banned certain ads due to misleading claims about winning real money or prizes, dictating they cannot reappear in their current form. Similarly, TikTok removed these ads for violating its social casino game advertising policies.
This serves as a warning to companies to avoid implying monetary or tangible rewards from their promotions.
It’s about time regulators stepped in! Misleading ads prey on those who may not understand the difference between social casino games and real gambling, causing potential harm. Glad to see some action being taken to protect consumers.
It’s good to see regulatory bodies stepping up to ensure advertisements are clear and not misleading, protecting consumers from potentially harmful misconceptions about online gambling.