Ladbrokes has launched its latest brand campaign in Australia, ‘Ladbroke It’, featuring Mark Wahlberg via creative agency Thinkerbell and production company Finch.
You can check out the series of ads here.
The new national campaign is aimed at making horse racing even more exciting, and sees Wahlberg star as ‘Mike Iceberg’, Ladbrokes new (CEO) Chief Entertainment Officer. Iceberg has coined the term ‘Ladbroke It’, which is all about turning up the dial on excitement and entertainment.
The ‘Ladbroke It’ campaign will run nationally in Australia throughout the year across broadcast, print, digital, social and out of home platforms.
“Part of our creative challenge was literally this: Use Mark Wahlberg to help us make racing even more exciting. Cue big shiny red Harley Davidson Horse and a dancing ATM…” said Jim Ingram, national chief creative Tinker at Thinkerbell.
“Our creative strategy in this was to use Mark as an actor playing an actual role, Mike Iceberg, rather than a celebrity endorsement. Christopher Riggert brought all his crazy and the whole Finch team did a brilliant job bringing Iceberg to life,” said
The work also includes a significant, dedicated Responsible Gambling commercial, set to the iconic soundtrack of “The Gambler”. Ladbrokes, which is part of the Entain, one of the world’s largest sports-betting and gaming groups, is committed to reaching mainstream Australians with its dedicated ‘Stay in Control’ messaging which helps Aussie punters understand that if it’s no longer entertaining, it’s time to walk away. ‘The Gambler’ will feature on TV and digital channels.
James Burnett, group chief marketing Officer, “‘Ladbrokes is committed to encouraging Australian punters to gamble safely and stay in control of how they bet and play. ‘Ladbroke It’ is about making having a bet even more fun and unmissable for punters, whilst simultaneously being enjoyed sensibly.”
“The ‘Ladbroke it’ platform is our way of injecting some more fun and entertainment into the world of racing and using Mark to play the role of Mike Iceberg to deliver our message is just the beginning. We’ll be committing to ‘Ladbroking it’ across our platform, products and communications over the next 18 months and will be asking ourselves a lot “What would Mike Iceberg do?” continued Burnett.
Credits
Client: Ladbrokes
James Burnett Group Chief Marketing Officer
David Rebetzke General Manager Marketing
Louise Gallagher Communications and Production Manager
Sarah Green Campaign Manager
Brand strategy: Element insight and strategy
Ewen Pettit – Founder and Head of Strategy
Creative Agency: Thinkerbell
Sesh Moodley – Head Tinker
Lauren Shelley – Head Thinker
Chris McMullen – Lead Tinker
Gerry Cyron – Brand Thinker
Katie Dally – General Manager
Jim Ingram – Chief Creative Tinker
Jacq Henderson – Thinker
Paul Leaning – Lead Production Tinker
Grant Anderson – Head of Production
Natalie Duncan – Head Thinker Earned
Taylor York – Lead Thinker Earned
Director: Christopher Riggert
Production Company: FINCH
Producer: Catherine Anderson
Executive Producer: Corey Esse
Edit: Stewart Reeves, The Editors
Post Production: Blackbird VFX / Atticus / Cutting Edge
Sound design: Ballad
Sound Mix: Squeak E. Clean / Cutting Edge
Photographer: Toby Burrows
Stills Production: The Kitchen Creative
Retouching: Limehouse
Media Agency: IKON
