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TIFFANY AP

A day after Macau's biggest casino operator put the brakes on a major advertising campaign featuring David Beckham, a glitzy video starring the global superstar was leaked on the internet and within hours the gaming giant issued a statement insisting the launch had gone ahead "as originally planned".
The campaign by the Venetian Macao - called "Never Settle" - was to have been announced at a much-hyped press conference yesterday. However, on Wednesday the company issued a one-line statement saying the launch had been "postponed until further notice".

In the wake of the delay, the South China Morning Post revealed that the unidentified "global icon" at the centre of the pre-launch publicity was Beckham.
An initial statement reacting to the Post's story was given to a Macau gaming website - which also ran the leaked video - and blamed technical difficulties for the delay.
That was followed by a statement from Dave Horton, chief marketing officer at Las Vegas Sands Corp.
It said: "We are delighted with the interest around the David Beckham and Venetian Macao Never Settle advertising campaign. As originally planned, we announce the campaign today and, as also planned, the advertising commences tomorrow."
The statement made no mention of the cancelled press conference nor the earlier "technical" difficulties.
It is unclear if the Venetian Macao has launched an investigation into the leaking of the Beckham video, which shows the former soccer player in various glamorous settings at their showpiece property on the Cotai Strip.
He is seen arriving at the Venetian Sands hotel in Macau to the flash of cameras.
Clad in a sharp suit, he then coolly saunters around the complex, taking in the luxury shops, restaurants and gondola rides as smiling, well-dressed guests mill around him. In another scene, he stands on a platform, above the cheering crowds, watching a boxing match.
The website WGM8.com which follows the gaming indus-try closely and which ran the leaked video yesterday, questioned the initial explanation.
It asked: "Can it really be true that a company as large as Venetian Macao, which prides itself on its world-class [facilities] suffered 'technical complexity in adapting [the] TV commercial to various media platforms at our properties' on such an important campaign featuring, in Venetian's own words, 'one of the world's most famous global icons'?"


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Macau

Venetian Macao overcomes ‘technical issues’ to launch David Beckham campaign

David Beckham casino advert leaked as Venetian Macao blames launch delay on ‘technical issues’

A still from the Venetian Macao advert starring David Beckham.

Launch of David Beckham ad campaign axed by Venetian Macao just 48 hours before roll-out

David Beckham leaves his handprints for posterity during a press conference at The Venetian Macao in November 22, 2013. Photo: Edward Wong

The Venetian Macao casino resort. Photo: AP

David Beckham

News

China

People & Culture

A leaked video, technical hitches and mixed messages as campaign kicks off


A day after Macau’s biggest casino operator put the brakes on major advertising campaign featuring David Beckham, a glitzy video starring the global superstar was leaked on the internet.


Luxury & Gaming