What makes one internet bingo brand stand out from the many available to choose from online today? Their welcome bonus, free money and promotional offers are all aspects that players consider when choosing a brand but today Sing Bingo get it wrong when promoting a jackpot game due to play at their site on 30th January 2011.
There are certain rules we all abide by when advertising a brand or a promotion; we don’t tell you that you will win, we emphasise that bingo is a game of chance – we concentrate of our efforts on a “here is what you COULD win” and we most certainly do not tell you that playing bingo or participating in any form of online gambling can pay your debts or change your life!
Sing Bingo however don’t appear to be as moralistic when promoting their offers and we were shocked to find that the latest promotion from this brand has the room it is playing in named “2011 Debt Free Heaven”. Additionally the game and all associated graphics are displaying “Debt Free 2011”. It doesn’t end with the graphics or the room name though, Sing Bingo have gone so far as mentioning “having your bills paid” and “not having to hide from the postman”.
This promotion goes against Gambling Advertising Rules, one of the key clauses being, as taken from the Advertising Standards Agency web page:
should not suggest that gambling can be a solution to financial concerns, an alternative to employment or a way to achieve financial security;
Ok, so the tickets for the game are just 1p each but it’s really beside the point – NO online bingo site, or any gambling brand for that matter, should promote themselves as being able to alleviate someone’s debt! Another point worth making about this Sing Bingo promotion is that the prize is unlikely to make anyone’s 2011 Debt Free – it’s £200 a month for 12 months, total of £2,400. With the average national debt per household (excluding mortgages) of £8,650*, it’s very unlikely that it would make the average individual debt free so not only is this promotion morally wrong and against the rules of advertising for online gambling , it’s also factually incorrect!
*Information taken from creditaction.org.uk
