888 and London Mayor Face Backlash Over Gambling Ads in Transport

888 Holdings is pulling some of its ads from London’s transport network following public outcry and criticism. The gambling company’s marketing materials, displayed throughout the city’s transport system, have sparked controversy, as reported by The Guardian.

Recently, 888 initiated an ad campaign on the London Underground, buses, and taxis, featuring slogans such as “This carriage is now a casino”.

Transport for London (TfL), the city’s transport operator, has faced backlash for allowing these ads. TfL has previously banned advertisements for products promoting unhealthy eating habits on its premises, but it deemed gambling promotions acceptable.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also been criticized for the gambling ads. Khan had pledged to ban gambling advertising on the city’s transport in 2021. This controversy comes at an inconvenient time for Khan, with mayoral elections scheduled for May 2. Susan Hall, Khan’s Conservative Party opponent, has already criticized 888’s TfL advertising.

In response to the backlash, the company announced it would remove some of its ads, though it did not specify which ones. 888 justified this decision by stating that the ads could be interpreted in a way that contradicts the company’s stance.

Previously, we reported that 888 had allocated approximately $124 million to settle potential claims for reimbursing player losses in countries where the company’s brands operate as offshore operators.