World Cup 2014: Anti-gambling advert backfires after it correctly predicts Germany to win the World Cup

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An advertisement that warned against the dangers of gambling has backfired spectacularly when the unlikely event used to highlight the folly of betting was, in fact, Germany winning the World Cup.

The ad, which appeared on bus shelters and billboards in Singapore, originally showed two young boys – “Andy” and “Andy’s friend – talking in a field, with Andy saying: “I hope Germany wins. My dad bet all our savings on them.”

The problem for the National Council of Problem Gambling is that Germany went on to win, and Andy’s dad will have been celebrating long into the night thanks to Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner.

However, after some quick thinking, the NCPG posted a new advert after the final featuring the same two children.

“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,” says a despondent Andy, seemingly looking more depressed than Lionel Messi at the Maracana.

The month-long advert had been criticised worldwide for reminding punters of the riches they could win should they back the winners rather than the danger of gambling, with American talk show host Jimmy Fallon also picking up on the advert during the World Cup.

It came to prominence following Germany’s 7-1 victory over Brazil in the semi-final, with Singaporeans blasting the campaign claiming that it didn’t properly warn of the danger that a gambling addiction can cause.

However, their quick-witted response has in turn been widely praised for demonstrating how a gambling addiction can snowball from one bet to the next.