The Advertising Standards Authority has publicly rebuked Casino Classic, a subsidiary of online casino operator Apollo Entertainment Ltd., for misleading its customers by sending them emails as part of a promotion campaign for its casinoclassic.co.uk online platform.
Players were promised that they could win the amount of £500 and this would be totally free. What is more, they were to keep whatever they won within their first minutes on the site. The emails also included a small-print terms and conditions link.
It seems that customers considered the emails misleading as the terms and conditions section did not provide players with the essential information that they were required to deposit a particular amount of money, so as to be able to receive their winnings. In addition to this, certain staking requirements were to be met, in order for them to be permitted to withdraw what they had won from their accounts.
A Casino Classic spokesperson explained that the misleading advertisement was distributed by an affiliate company, which, as it seems, had failed to include the required terms and conditions of their promotion.
The casino operator also pointed out that certain information should have been added in the advertisement. For instance, players needed to be informed that they would have to place at least 20 bets and to win £20 apart from those £500, in order to be able to withdraw their winnings.
In addition to this, players were to deposit at least £20 into their accounts, so as to be able to cash out. There was also no information that the maximum winning amounted to no more than £100.
However, the company emphasized that the there was no risk for players, indeed, as they would not be asked to deposit certain amount of money so as to be paid out those £500.
The ASA, an independent regulatory body, which is in charge of monitoring the advertising industry within the territory of the United Kingdom, reprimanded Casino Classic, stating that it was its responsibility to stick to the association’s rules.
The regulator pointed out that the operator’s choice of wording did not comply with the essence of its offer. The ASA considered the emails contained information that was not likely to be interpreted in the right manner by players.
The association eventually stated that the advertisement should no longer be distributed and it should be changed in a manner that would make it easier for players to understand the terms and conditions of the offer.
