meta_id 3187359

On May 27, 2026, the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) published a ruling on a complaint regarding an Instagram post by Betway Ltd featuring retired footballer Thierry Henry. The ASA determined the ad did not breach the Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code). The post, seen in November 2025, featured an image of Henry with text discussing Arsenal's squad depth and included Betway's logo, an 18+ symbol, and the begambleaware.org logo. A researcher from the University of Bristol complained that the ad featured an individual likely to appeal strongly to under-18s, potentially breaching CAP Code rules 16.1, 16.3, and 16.3.12 (Gambling) , which prohibit marketing communications for gambling products from including persons likely to appeal strongly to those under 18 years old. Betway argued that Henry, aged 48 at the time and retired from professional football for over a decade, primarily appealed to adult audiences. The operator provided data showing Henry had 4.32 million Instagram followers globally, with only 19,483 estimated to be based in the UK and under 18 years old—significantly below the 100,000-follower threshold CAP Guidance indicates as indicative of strong appeal to under-18s. Betway noted Henry's punditry work was primarily for CBS Sports, an American network unavailable in the UK, with only occasional guest appearances on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. The ASA assessed Henry's profile as a retired footballer-turned-pundit and concluded his social media presence and television appearances were unlikely to indicate strong appeal to UK under-18s. The authority considered viral moments from his punditry work centred on tactical analysis rather than content resonating with younger audiences. The ASA upheld Betway's position and ruled the ad did not breach the CAP Code.

[Auto-generated content is not available for this article. Please write the update manually based on the source.]