Profit Accumulator Ltd falls foul of the ASA for the second time this year

In March of this year we reported on a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority that upheld a complaint that two Instagram posts appearing on Profit Accumulator’s Instagram account suggesting that matched betting could be a way to achieve financial security were irresponsible.

The ASA has today (14 October 2020) made a further ruling against that same company, upholding the following complaints in relation to (1) a paid-for Facebook post and (2) a website for its casino bonus hunting service trading as ‘Bonus Accumulator’:

  • in relation to the first ad, a video voiceover stating:
    • “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,
    • “It is almost statistically certain that you will make a profit” was misleading and could not be substantiated, and
    • “It is almost statistically certain that you will make a profit if you do enough offers” was socially irresponsible.
  • in relation to the second ad, text stating: “casino bonuses are not gambling because just like matched betting, we give you an edge that allows you to beat the bookies…” was socially irresponsible.

You can find out more by downloading below today’s ASA ruling, in which the ASA states as follows:

“The ads must not appear again in the form complained about. We told Profit Accumulator Ltd t/a Bonus Accumulator 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. We also told Bonus Accumulator to ensure their marketing communications did not claim consumers were certain to make a profit”.

It is worth noting that in its March 2020 ruling, the ASA told Profit Accumulator Ltd “not to suggest or imply that matched betting could be a solution to financial concerns, an alternative to employment or a way to achieve financial security”. 

It is regrettable that the ASA has no additional powers enabling more robust regulatory action to be taken against a repeat offender such as this company. Because Profit Accumulator is not a gambling operator licensed by the Gambling Commission, the Commission has no regulatory control over it. Nevertheless, there will be those who will erroneously consider this to be another case of the UK gambling industry wilfully ignoring advertising codes. Justifiable arguments to the contrary may well fall on deaf ears as all interested parties prepare for the forthcoming government review of the Gambling Act 2005.