The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld three complaints filed against Profit Accumulator, trading as Bonus Accumulator, which challenged claims made in a paid-for Facebook post and in website text.
The former was seen on June 9, 2020, and featured a video explaining how Bonus Accumulator’s service worked. In one section of the video, a voiceover read through a number of testimonials from consumers.
One complainant challenged if wording which stated “this is my 45th day of isolation … this money is so welcome as I haven’t earned anything in six weeks,” was socially irresponsible because it suggested that casino bonus hunting could be a way to achieve financial security.
Furthermore, a statement which read “It is almost statistically certain that you will make a profit if you do enough offers” was questioned as socially irresponsible.
Furthermore, website text, seen on June 14, 2020 which said “casino bonuses are not gambling because just like matched betting, we give you an edge that allows you to beat the bookies…” and “it is almost statistically certain that you will make a profit,” were challenged as socially irresponsible and misleading, respectively, in addition to questioning if the latter could be substantiated.
Responding to the complaints, the firm explained that “casino bonus hunting” was a system by which consumers could exploit casino bonuses where there was a statistical edge. The statement which began “this is my 45th day of isolation” was called “immaterial and not a key part of the ad”.
The firm said that taken in the context of earlier statements in the ad, such as “I cannot promise you that you will make money”, the statement was not irresponsible or materially significant.
Furthermore, Bonus Accumulator said that as a matter of mathematical fact, consumers who made enough bets using casino bonuses would have an “edge” over the relevant casino, guaranteeing a profit.
Upholding all complaints, the ASA informed the firm that the advertisements must not appear again in the form complained about.
Bonus Accumulator was told “to ensure that future marketing communications did not present gambling as an alternative to employment or a way to achieve financial security, and to ensure future marketing communications did not irresponsibly downplay the risk involved in gambling”.
The company was also notified to ensure that their marketing communications did not claim consumers were certain to make a profit.
