The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ordered the former Liverpool striker to remove a promotion for a non-fungible token scheme that violated the advertising guidelines for cryptocurrency products after he used his Twitter account to advertise an unlicensed cryptocurrency casino to British citizens.
Owen sent two tweets last month promoting Punt Casino, a business with a Curacao registration but no UK licencing. Only betting companies that are authorised by the UK Gambling Commission are permitted to legally advertise to UK citizens.
The tweets have subsequently been removed, and UK users have had access to the site geoblocked.
A Punt Casino spokeswoman said, "Punt Casino is a fully licenced Curacao casino operating under the rules and regulations associated with that licence." We do not advertise or market our casino to anybody in any nations or jurisdictions that are prohibited by our licence.
Professional football is heavily influenced by gambling advertising, especially in the UK, where 10 of the 20 Premier League clubs now have gambling company logos on their uniforms. One of the primary concerns in the government's review of the Gambling Act of 2005 is this.
Everton just become a member of this group of organisations after the Merseyside team finalised a key partner arrangement with Stake.com that set a club record.
The name of the cryptocurrency betting provider will be shown at the club's stadium and practise facility as part of the multi-year collaboration, which is the most expensive front-of-shirt contract in Everton's history.
