A advertisement for William Hill's online bingo site has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for being "socially irresponsible". The commercial shows a woman who is eagerly waiting for her husband to leave the house in the morning so she can sneak off to play online bingo. The woman is ready to get online so she turns the hands of the clock forward so she can make him leave the house sooner.

Gambling advertisement have to abide by strict guidelines in which the gambling activity can not appeal to children or seem as if it could improve one's life or status. After the commercial started airing there were several complaints made that said that the character was obviously addicted to online gambling and was deceiving her partner about he bingo activities.

William Hill countered that the commercial was a funny look at a common situation, where a housewife can't wait for her husband to leave so she can get on with her day. But in the end the ASA has the final word and they said that the ad promotes gambling in s socially irresponsible way that could lead to emotional or financial harm.

The slogan, "I get mine the minute he's left" implied a rather desperate urge to gamble, according to the ASA. Since the law has allowed gambling advertising on tv various companies have been testing the water so to speak to see what exactly is allowed and what's not.











- 2008-06-02