Gary Neville, Lewis Hamilton, and Chelsea Logo at Center of Latest UK Gambling-Ad Bans

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued fresh rulings against gambling-related advertising, this time involving former English footballer Gary Neville, Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton, and the branding of Chelsea FC. The regulator determined that the ads in question risked appealing to under-18 audiences and therefore breached industry safeguarding rules.

In two separate rulings, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned gambling-advertising campaigns featuring high-profile sports figures and branding — one involving former footballer and pundit Gary Neville and another concerning F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and the Chelsea FC logo — citing concerns the material could strongly appeal to under-18s.

Sky Bet Ad Featuring Gary Neville Ruled Irresponsible

The first ruling concerns Sky Bet, which posted a social media clip featuring Gary Neville alongside the company’s branding. The content was taken from Neville’s YouTube show and repurposed in a promotional format, showing the pundit discussing football topics while the Sky Bet logo appeared within the post.

The ASA concluded that Neville’s significant profile among younger audiences — including his involvement in mainstream football broadcasting and his social media presence — meant he’s considered to hold “strong appeal to children and teenagers.”

Despite Sky Bet including a standard gambling warning label, the ASA ruled that the promotional use of Neville still broke gambling advertising rules that prohibit the use of personalities likely to be influential to under-18s.

Sky Bet was instructed to withdraw the ad and avoid using similar individuals in future promotional content. The company argued that Neville is primarily followed by adults and that no complaints were filed by the public, but the ASA maintained its position that appeal to minors is the primary determining factor.

Kwiff Ad Featuring Lewis Hamilton Pulled After Youth Appeal Assessment

In a separate ruling, betting operator Kwiff had an advertisement featuring Lewis Hamilton banned. The ad showed Hamilton ahead of the British Grand Prix and was used to promote betting engagement surrounding the event.

The ASA determined that Hamilton’s prominence in Formula 1, combined with his presence in widely accessible video games such as “F1 24”, as well as his large social-media following that includes thousands of under-18 users, meant the ad could strongly appeal to younger audiences.

Kwiff argued that Hamilton is a globally recognized adult icon and that the advertisement was aimed squarely at adult motorsport fans. However, the regulator found that his cross-platform relevance, including appearances in content frequently consumed by minors, placed the ad in violation of gambling marketing standards.

Betway Criticized for Use of Chelsea FC Logo in Stadium Context

The ASA also upheld a complaint against Betway for a campaign that included the Chelsea FC logo shown on fan shirts and scarves within what appeared to be a matchday context on YouTube — a reminder of how closely Premier League fan culture and gambling sponsorships are intertwined, especially for those seeking the best English Premier League betting sites to wager responsibly.

While football clubs are permitted to carry gambling sponsors under certain conditions, the regulator ruled that the imagery of fans wearing club merchandise and celebrating within a stadium environment — something strongly associated with youth support — created an advertising presentation likely to appeal to under-18s.

Betway stated that it believed the ad complied with sponsorship guidelines and warned that the ruling could complicate legitimate commercial partnerships between sports clubs and gambling brands. However, the ASA argued that safeguarding young fans takes precedence over sponsorship visibility.

Clearer Line Being Drawn for Gambling in Sports Promotion

Taken together, the rulings reinforce a growing regulatory trend: if a sports figure, club, or brand has substantial crossover with youth audiences, gambling companies will face tighter scrutiny than ever before.

The ASA has signaled that disclaimers, “18+” symbols, and responsible gambling logos are no longer sufficient when the individuals or environments depicted are culturally influential to teenagers.

Sports organizations, advertisers, and sponsors now face heightened pressure to assess not just where ads are shown but who’s featured and how these figures resonate across media formats consumed by young people.