Gambling ad banned for religious motives

Boylesports’ add showing a hand nailed to a piece of wood was banned by the UK Advertising Standards Authority.

UK.-  Irish bookmaker Boylesports emailed a promotion to punters that showed a hand nailed to a piece of wood against adding the line “nailed on bonus.”

“In memory of the dearly departed JC, we are offering you a sacrilecious [sic] bonus this Easter weekend … So don’t just sit there gorging your own body weight in chocolate, that’s disrespectful. Get on Boylesports Gaming and get your nailed on bonus,” the text read.

One recipient of the email lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) claiming that the ad was offensive and mocked the Christian religion. The Advertising Standards Authority banned the Easter promotion as the regulator deemed it likely to cause serious offence to some readers.

Boylesports argued that there was no religious symbolism in the ad and that crucifixion per se was a “common practice” in Christ’s time. However, the ASA dismissed Boylesports’ argument, saying the ad was clearly not a reference to a “generic” crucifixion, but directly to Jesus Christ’s.

“We considered the offence was likely to be particularly strongly felt by those of the Christian faith at Easter, when the imagery would have a particularly strong resonance,” said the ASA. “We considered that the ad was likely to cause serious offence and concluded that it was therefore in breach of the code.”