In Nova Scotia, ads have been running that show young athletes playing their sports. The reason for the gambling ad is to show people that their gambling money is being used in a positive manner.

The children in the ads have received funds from gaming revenue to help in their training. It is part of the reason that the gambling system is in place, however, an anti-gambling group is making waves over the gambling ads.

A group speak out against gambling and wants Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation officials to step down after the lottery company featured a series of ads including youthful athletes. Although the athletes were not characterized as gambling, several demonstrators say just placing young people in a gambling ad violates lottery gaming standards.

The gaming company is owned by the province of Nova Scotia, and operates the lottery, as well as 2 casinos and video lottery machines. It is generally acclaimed as being among the leaders in responsible gaming, including its part in developing Betstopper software to allow individual PCs to shut off online casinos.

The controversial gambling ads showed regional athletes who sporting programs were helped financially with over $6 million raised through the gaming corporation. The athletes were shown as a display of how gaming has benefited Nova Scotia, not as an attraction to children to try gambling.

Nevertheless, GameOverVLTs director Terry Fulmer says the lottery operator is "Using underage and youth athletes to promote gambling." The gaming website emphasizes the company's commitment to community responsibility, and marks the more than $150 million provided to the province by gambling revenue. But the people against to the gambling ads say that Nova Scotia intended to trick people saying that video lottery machines aren't harmful.

"All the ads are showing is that gambling funds are being used to help the children of Nova Scotia, It is no different than lotteries that are set up where the funds go towards education." sai Darryl Grant, a gambling analyst.

Nova Scotia officials reckons that the Gaming Corp. is violating their own rules by featuring youth athletes in the gambling ad. There has been no comment yet from the Gaming Corp.

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It also offers restaurants including Paradise Buffet and Trapeze Grille and Bar and complimentary alcohol in the designated high-limit areas.

The advertisement for Betfair flaunted a photo of a young woman with the tagline “Online experience is measured in games, not years. Join the new breed. Annette_15″.

“It was likely to have particular appeal to children and young people, and that, by representing a successful young poker player with the implication she was 15 years old, it could encourage young people to gamble and was therefore irresponsible” as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ratify a complaint against Betfair's online gambling ad.

The advertisement was sent out in an email for an online poker site and pointed out that Annette Obrestad, who is genuinely a 20 years old and a poker champion. “Annette_15” is her online nickname.

The ASA says Betfair's advertisement using World Series of Poker Europe winner Annette Obrestad might confuse children because it uses her online ID, "Annette_15."

The ASA also challenged the ad as contrary to a Committee of Advertising Practice code which states no one under 25 can appear in a gambling ad in the UK.

Betfair argued it did not target its marketing at under 18-year-olds, Obrestad is currently 20, and won the WSOPE at age 18. But the ASA's written requirements demand all persons appearing in gambling marketing be at least 25.

Betfair responded that Obrestad was chosen because of her standing as a poker professional and champion who had had a profound effect on the game. The online gambling operator precluded her young age was in any way a factor in her selection.

Despite claiming it would effect Obrestad's dexterity to extract earnings from sponsorship deals, Betfair stated a comprehensible instructions that had been given to its marketing department not to use her again in marketing material directed at UK consumers.

"We noted the code stated that no one under 25 years of age should be featured gambling in a marketing communication, or playing a significant role, Because Ms Obrestad was 20 years old and because, as a professional poker player, she played a significant role in gambling in the ad, we concluded the ad breached the provisions of the code." Said the ASA.