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Report reveals that over four in ten accounts restricted from sports betting by the UK Gambling Commission are consistently profitable

UK Gambling Commission report reveals that a higher proportion (47%) of restricted sports betting accounts in 2024 showed profitability compared to regular customers (25%).

Over four in ten (47%) of the betting accounts restricted by the UK Gambling Commission continue to...
Over four in ten (47%) of the betting accounts restricted by the UK Gambling Commission continue to earn a profit despite regulations

Report reveals that over four in ten accounts restricted from sports betting by the UK Gambling Commission are consistently profitable

In the year 2024, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) conducted a comprehensive study of sports betting accounts in Great Britain, revealing that approximately 4.3% of these accounts were restricted by operators. These restrictions are typically imposed through bet size limits or account closures.

Interestingly, the Commission found that a significant number of these restricted accounts were profitable. Around 47% of the restricted accounts were lifetime profitable, while only 25% of unrestricted accounts showed a similar trend. This suggests that sportsbooks primarily restrict highly profitable players to manage their commercial risks.

The implications of these restrictions are far-reaching. For many restricted accounts, bet size limits were drastically reduced, with 36% limited to just 9% of a normal stake, and 22% restricted to less than 1% of a normal bet.

The UKGC clarified that it does not regulate how sportsbooks manage these restrictions and emphasized that there is no legal protection against profitable player discrimination. The Commission also expressed concern that restrictions could push players towards illegal operators or encourage them to open multiple accounts, undermining regulatory compliance.

The UKGC urges sportsbooks to be transparent with users about the circumstances leading to restrictions. This transparency is aimed at users facing restrictions and is a key component of the Commission's regulatory efforts.

It's worth noting that the practice of restricting profitable players is not unique to the UK. The industry norm is such that sportsbooks profit from most players but limit those they see as commercial liabilities due to consistent profitability.

The UKGC maintains that managing commercial exposure, including restricting "sharp" or winning bettors, is a legitimate business practice and not subject to discrimination law protections. However, the Commission encourages sportsbooks to exercise transparency in their dealings with customers to promote fairness and trust.

[1] UKGC Press Release, 2024 [2] UKGC Report on Sports Betting Account Restrictions, 2024 [3] Gambling Times, "UKGC Report Highlights Prevalence of Restricted Accounts", 2024 [4] The Guardian, "UKGC Calls for Transparency in Account Restrictions", 2024 [5] Gambling Insider, "UKGC Clarifies Position on Profitable Player Restrictions", 2024

  1. The study conducted by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) in 2024 revealed that a significant number of restricted sports betting accounts were profitable, with 47% of them being lifetime profitable, a figure higher than 25% of uns restricted accounts.
  2. Despite the UKGC maintaining that managing commercial exposure, including restricting "sharp" or winning bettors, is a legitimate business practice, the Commission encourages sportsbooks to exercise transparency in their dealings with customers to promote fairness and trust, especially in the context of sports betting and casino-and-gambling activities.

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