Paddy Power Stops Pistorius Bet: 1000 Wagers Taken, Over 5000 Complaints
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has finally caved in and ceased taking wagers on the Oscar Pistorius murder trial in South Africa. Pistorius shot his wife dead last year, mistaking her for an intruder. The paraplegic runner insists the shooting was an accident.
A spokesperson for the betting firm claimed that the wagering campaign “had run its course”, perhaps another not-so-subtle analogy associated with the legless runner.
A weekend ad drew the ire of gamblers worldwide as well as the Great Britain Advertising Authority. The campaign sought to capitalize on the Academy Awards with a caption that read “It’s Oscar Time” and featuring Pistorius as an Oscar statuette. The advert also posed the question “Will He Walk?”, again, a not-so-subtle reference to Pistorius’ paralysis.
The bookmaker confirmed it had suspended bets despite some 1000 wagers placed on the trial outcome. But this number was offset by the over 5000 complaints that rolled in regarding what many believed to be a “vile” betting option.
Paddy Power had already stopped running its controversial ad after the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) forced its removal on Wednesday.
No word on whether the company will be fined.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
