Using tech data to ID big winners
The BBC reports that some gamblers are being shut out by bookmakers who have deemed them too successful. Some clients say they have had their betting accounts closed or their betting activities “restricted” after big wins.
“They shouldn’t be advertising a product that’s not available to everybody,” Yorkshire teacher Neil Smith told the news organization. “The flipside of this is they are trying to squeeze money out of people who they are know are profitable. If you’re good, you can’t win long-term, it’s as simple as that.”
“Five years ago it used to be a badge of honor for serious punters to be restricted, and you would have to win some substantial sums to get a letter or email like that,” said Peter Ling, who runs a gambling advice service. Ling told the BBC that bookmakers are using personal data to identify probable winners and cut them out of the game; the news network 5 Live Investigates said software programs that are used combat fraud may also be used to track people’s betting patterns online or check whether they are using comparison sites.
“These days it’s all too common,” Ling said. “It’s not just people like me or my members. Your regular Joe Punters who are having the occasional bet and are having some success are finding themselves restricted.”
A spokesman for Irish bookmaker Paddy Power said it takes “a ‘one-for-all’ rather than an ‘all-for-one’ view.” Translation: “If we’re prepared to lose €2 million (£1.5 million, or US$TK) on an event, we would much prefer to lose €2,000 to 1,000 different customers rather than €2 million to one individual.”
William Hill conceded it sometimes restricted bets from a small group of customers, mainly professional gamblers. Other bookmakers declined to comment on their policies.
One high street betting shop manager told the BBC that it is common practice to “grade” bettors and then restrict those who are habitual winners. “If they are a serious backer of horses and clearly know what they are doing with the odds, then we don’t want them at all—the orders are ‘Get rid of him or let him have a few quid on the starting price only.’”
The Independent cited bookmakers who say the practice is an attempt to “be fair to the ordinary punter” by limiting the number of so-called pros.
