ASAI to probe Paddy Power ‘Last Supper’ poster ads

Bookmaker Paddy Power has caused controversy in the Republic of Ireland with its new poster campaign, which depicts Jesus gambling at the Last Supper.

So far the company has received about 80 complaints about the ad, based on Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting, and about 90 people have contacted the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) to complain. The ASAI has requested the company stops the campaign while it investigates the complaints.

A second ad, featuring doctors in a maternity hospital playing cards while a woman gives birth, has attracted 15 complaints. Both the executions feature the controversial bookmaker’s new tagline/ “There’s a place for fun and games”.

The posters have been created by Paddy Power’s newly appointed Irish ad agency Cawley Nea TBWA, which won the business from Irish International last month.

Paddy Power marketing director Barni Evans says the company is not planning to run the ads in England, Scotland or Wales.