Singapore Could Have Timed Their Anti-Gambling Commercial A Little Bit Better - Major Fail!

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An anti-gambling advert which featured a man putting his son's life savings on Germany winning the World Cup was widely panned by Singaporeans online Wednesday after it was shown during Brazil's crushing defeat. Read more: <a href="http://events.insing.com/feature/football-disaster-for-brazil-as-germany/id-dd473101/" >Football: Disaster for Brazil as Germany run riot</a> The advertisement by Singapore's National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) featured a group of boys excitedly discussing who will triumph in the ongoing football World Cup in Brasil. At the end, one of them said while frowning: I hope Germany wins. My dad bet all my savings on them. The screen then faded out to a message cautioning about the social fallout of gambling.But for many Singaporeans, the cautionary message fell on deaf ears as Germany romped home to a record breaking 7-1 victory over Brazil - the worst semi-final defeat in World Cup history.The advert first aired at half-time, when Germany were already 5-0 ahead, prompting much mirth and ridicule online, including from two top government officials. Bad timing, Tan Chuan-Jin, Singapore's Manpower Minister, wrote on his Facebook page. Looks like the boy's father who bet all his savings on Germany will be laughing all the way to the bank! At 4.49am on Wednesday, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck also addressed   the irony: Germany leads 5-0 at half time. At least the boy in the advertisement can get his savings back... A meme of the commercial by Singapore blogger Lee Kin Mun with the caption Always trust your father. #GER 7 : #BRA 1 went viral on Twitter and Facebook<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=673002806082940&set=a.534336879949534.1073741829.533717230011499&type=1&theater" ></a>Wednesday 9 July morning.Dozens of other memes related to the commercial are also circulating on social media. See the gallery: <a href="http://features.insing.com/gallery/the-internet-reacts-to-gambling-ad/id-f4473101/photos/" >The jokes are on anti-gambling ad after Germany's historic win</a> Sports betting is deeply entrenched in wealthy Singapore, with many placing punts with illegal betting outfits that offer higher returns compared to legal betting.Germany now face an encounter with either Argentina or the Netherlands in the final on 13 July Sunday.Watch the accompanying video to the advertisement campaign below:[video=http://youtu.be/oRValgHDvxE]<a href="http://www.gambling911.com/fifa-world-cup/singapore-anti-gambling-ad-fails-after-germany-win-070914.html" >source</a>[/video]

 

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Singapore Tries To Save Face By Updating Their Anti-Gambling Commercial After Germany Beats Argentina

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore tried its best to save an own goal on Monday by updating an anti-gambling ad that starred a despairing boy named Andy telling friends his dad had bet his life savings on Germany winning the World Cup.The National Council on Problem Gambling's commercial was lampooned around the world after Germany thrashed Brazil 7-1 in the semi-finals, sparking jokes that the ad would encourage rather than deter gambling. The laughs got louder after Germany beat Argentina 1-0 early on Monday Singapore time, with many people taking to social media to congratulate Andy on his family's good fortune. Andy, okay you can stop smiling. Go get your savings from your daddy. Tell him please don't do this again and you get ready for school, Minister of State at the Trade and Industry Ministry Teo Ser Luck wrote on his Facebook page. The council swiftly put up a new version of the ad on its website, making clear Andy's father was unlikely to be spending his winnings on a family holiday. Your dad's team won. Did you get your savings back? asks Andy's friend. No, dad never stops... He wants to bet one more time, comes his reply, without specifying where he might put his next wager.The council said last week it had chosen Germany in the ad to inject a sense of realism into its message and that the idea was to deter people from getting carried away by the World Cup hype.Gambling is hugely popular in Singapore but tightly regulated, with football bets only allowed to be placed through state-owned bookmaker Singapore Pools.The government launched the anti-gambling council in 2005 - before it allowed two multi-billion dollar gaming resorts to open in 2010.The commercial will continue to run until July 23.(Reporting By Caroline Ng; Editing by Rachel Armstrong and Nick Macfie)<a href="http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/where-will-dad-bet-next-singapore-ad-follow-won%E2%80%99t-say-071414.html" >source</a>