Ireland Authority Warns TonyBet Over Prohibited Ads

Gaming operator TonyBet has found itself in hot water in Ireland due to two ads that violated the local gambling standards. According to local regulators, the operator’s ads painted gambling as a way to earn money, which is strictly prohibited under the local rules.

TonyBet Ad Painted Gambling as a Way to Gain Money

The Irish Advertising Standards Authority said that one of the ads in question was a YouTube ad, which showed a man gambling on TonyBet while sitting on the toilet. The ad’s caption emphasized that “only 3% of people can do this” and implied that its app allows players to “make money while sitting on the toilet.”

This wording carried the implication that gambling is a way to make money, downplaying the risks associated with the activity. As a result, the authority determined that it was in violation of the local rules.

In response, TonyBet said that the inappropriate wording was due to human error that slipped past the regular checks. Then, the third-party agency responsible for uploading the material did not conduct a compliance review.

TonyBet acknowledged its mistake, admitting that it failed to follow its guidance on ads.

A Separate Ad Had Similar Implications

This wasn’t the operator’s only similar violation, either, since a separate ad on YouTube was also deemed to be inappropriate. The ad in question featured a woman holding a baby and the line “It’s hard to pay my rent and take care of my babies, but I made $8,500 last month.”

Like the toilet ad, this one clearly implied that gambling is a way for people to make money. In this case, it implied that even a struggling mother can fix her financial hurdles by gaming.

As with the other ad, the ASA said that this one violated Ireland’s rules and could expose players to harm.

TonyBet acknowledged its fault and once again attributed the violation to its affiliate partner.

TonyBet Previously Received Warnings in the Netherlands

This isn’t the first time TonyBet has been reprimanded by a gaming regulator, either. A year ago, the company was warned over its lack of customer service in the Dutch language in the Netherlands. Per the local rules, all licensees should offer reliable customer service in Dutch 24 hours a day.

Several months later, the Dutch gaming regulator reprimanded TonyBet over offering bets on the winner of the Ballon d’Or and the winner of the Ballon d’Or at the FIFA Club World Cup. Since these markets rely on jury voting and not on athlete performance and can therefore be influenced, the Netherlands prohibits operators from offering them.