Bookies closed 20,000 betting accounts in six months

[Bladders]

Sometimes I do with Corals, but it's time consuming especially when you are backing some unpronounceable golf on the Web.Com tour and the lady has to phone up for the price.

I see your point, I went into a Ladbrokes a few years back to do a yankee on some NFL games and the bloke had no clue how to find the odds.

 

[perseus]

I still go down the bookies and tend to regret not putting bets on, but it is safer as I tend to get careless after a few winnings.

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

Maybe there needs to be a new term for operators of FOBT terminals.'Dandy highwaymen' perhaps? They're certainly not making a book of runners. Seems utterly wrong that you can just wander in off the street and piss your wages/benefit up the wall in such a rubbish way. And don't get me STARTED on virtual racing. How on earth did this level of super-tax on the super-stupid ever become legitimate?

Bookmakers have strayed from their core business ( Over The Counter ) and concentrated on their Fixed Odds Betting Terminal business instead. Fobt's are the industries Golden Goose and they will protect their pet from the slaughter house at any cost. The split between OTC and Fobt's is approx 35% - 65%. Don't forget, the Roulette machines are now a billion pound industry this means that many people are losing a lot of money. Granted adults make their own choices and are responsible for their actions but when you have an industry that regularly opens high street shops just for the machine business, then you must realise that more and more temptation is being put in people's way.

 

[alfredmizen]

I'd say all but the first reason are completely unfair.

I think the first reason is unfair too tbh, i also dont agree with casinos being able to ban card counters in blackjack.

 

[Billy Seagull]

Its a joke. I'd be surprised if its as low as 20,000. It is rare that I can get any three figure bet on with any of the shysters. I'm on my fourth Hills account since this time last year and despite losing 4 figures on it recently I can now only stake to win £100. The shops are as bad as pretty much any three figure bet gets referred, sometimes layed sometimes not.

Gamble responsibly.....if only

The whole industry is rancid. Betfair are no better with their lovely Premium Charge

 

[happypig]

- they think you are an arber

What's an arber ?

 

[looney]

Multitude of reasons:

- you back too many winners
- you back horses which shorten
- you back horses in bad e/w races
- you abuse offers
- they think you are an arber
- you only ever back when they are best price

The first one is fair enough if you've won a bundle off them - but most of the time it's not even that much.
The last one is the most unfair - that is what betting is all about to me.

They never actually tell you why though

I had restrictions put on one of my accounts a few years ago. Ive found that low stake combo betting keeps me under the radar. Stakes rarely higher than £20 and returns under 5 figures.

If you look like a pro stuffing on a few grand reg then they will act. They like writing cheques in shops for big wins so they get your name for the "naughty book", its just harder for them to track in shops but they do the same thing.

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

What's an arber ?

Somebody that trades at no financial risk to themselves.

Example - Arber has £100 @ 10/1 in the bookies ( £1000 profit if it wins )
Lays it back on Betfair @ 9/1 ( pays out £900 if it wins )

If the horse loses The Arber has not lost any cash,
If the horse wins he gets £100 for no outlay as his stake is covered by laying it back to a punter on Betfair.

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

I think the first reason is unfair too tbh, i also dont agree with casinos being able to ban card counters in blackjack.

The irony is card counting is not illegal, it just gives the player a higher percentage in their favour. The casinos don't like that.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Interestingly I've just come back from a meeting and a lunch with the fraud team of William Hill. There are numerous reasons why accounts are closed, and having one person with numerous accounts is a good example. This is a major headache for gaming companies because of the "Betting Responsibility" regulation. If one customer has numerous accounts, it's harder for them to stop irresponsible gamblers.

 

[8ace]

What's an arber ?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_book

 

[Tubby-McFat-Fuc]

Interestingly I've just come back from a meeting and a lunch with the fraud team of William Hill. There are numerous reasons why accounts are closed, and having one person with numerous accounts is a good example. This is a major headache for gaming companies because of the "Betting Responsibility" regulation. If one customer has numerous accounts, it's harder for them to stop irresponsible gamblers.

Anyone thinks that is the real reason, is a complete knob! Good for PR and the gullible though!

 

[8ace]

I had restrictions put on one of my accounts a few years ago. Ive found that low stake combo betting keeps me under the radar. Stakes rarely higher than £20 and returns under 5 figures.

If you look like a pro stuffing on a few grand reg then they will act. They like writing cheques in shops for big wins so they get your name for the "naughty book", its just harder for them to track in shops but they do the same thing.

My usual stake is £7, they are quite happy to accommodate high rolling mug punters - they even invite them to their box at Royal Ascot!

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Anyone thinks that is the real reason, is a complete knob! Good for PR and the gullible though!

Well they spend several hundreds of thousands of pounds with us for this very reason, so that's an expensive (and non-existent PR) way of doing business.

 

[8ace]

Interestingly I've just come back from a meeting and a lunch with the fraud team of William Hill. There are numerous reasons why accounts are closed, and having one person with numerous accounts is a good example. This is a major headache for gaming companies because of the "Betting Responsibility" regulation. If one customer has numerous accounts, it's harder for them to stop irresponsible gamblers.

The easiest way to stop irresponsible gamblers is to remove the FOBTS from their shops.

 

[Ernest]

The easiest way to stop irresponsible gamblers is to remove the FOBTS from their shops.

Which they will never do

 

[studio150]

It seems the bookies have been watching their own tv ads. When the fun stops. Stop. Clearly they are not having fun taking money off a lot of punters

 

[8ace]

Which they will never do

Off course not mate.

 

[looney]

My usual stake is £7, they are quite happy to accommodate high rolling mug punters - they even invite them to their box at Royal Ascot!

The thing is I dont havea usual stake, it all depends on the price, how many I fancy, how much I fancy them, the course and going and my current form. I laid out £9 today then had an impulse bet £5 ew on one at 20/1 in france, 1/4 odds which just came second so I'm happy. Ive backed 5 at thirsk, 3 at Carlisle and 1 at windsor. I may do a £0.10p heinz now on wins and places for 3 each on the evening cards.

Some days, more winter I may not have a bet or a 10p lucky 15 or 31. In summer stakes can top £100. but it varies on so many factors as outlined above.

I am glad that now I am older I have the will power not to have a bet.

 

[Rugrat]

Well they spend several hundreds of thousands of pounds with us for this very reason, so that's an expensive (and non-existent PR) way of doing business.

Then there's maybe a public and a private face.

Not a friend but me ..... got tangled up in it and had accounts everywhere, not multiples just the one at each. Got out of hand and even though they could see it the more I tried to slow down the more they chucked "free" money at me, obscene amounts. - All the biggies, Ladbrokes, Hills, Coral, Paddy etc

Even trying to get out of it with self exclusion they make difficult by needing to complete documentation that has to be printed and posted, none of them simply allow you to own up and ask to be properly excluded

Thankfully I got off light due to some freak upside but I'm with the poster above ... they'll chuck a few quid at a business to give them a clean public face but the reality is far different, unless I was some sort of freak isolated case of course!!