This is different to Tweet 58 where we looked at the importance of understanding Bookmaker Limits. This concerns the complete lack of clarity for a customer coming to a betting site and what stakes they will be able to place on any selection/market. I find it absolutely bewildering that it isn’t a basic requirement from the Gambling Commission for bookmakers to be transparent about what the maximum bet is that they will take, from a customer, on a selection within a market. Without having to place a bet first.
When internet bookmaking was in its infancy more sites (not all) would display what amount you could place on a selection, prior to submitting a bet. Bet365 for example used to have a ‘Bet Max’ button where you could see the maximum stakes you could place on a selection. As sites have been acquired by the various parent companies that functionality has all but disappeared across the industry. It was a sad day when Bet365 removed this functionality (2019 I think it was).
Why has it happened and why it is important? I think from the bookmakers side there are a few reasons why they were glad to get rid of it. Firstly, it just looks terrible when the max bet a company is willing to lay on a big match/race is £1.25 or similar. When people can see this without trying to place a bet it’s not a great look.
I think the main reason though is that it really only affected the bigger players (although those with restricted accounts also suffer). It was always nice to be able to deposit an appropriate amount and place bets that were accepted without fuss. Without being referred to traders. If someone wanted a bigger bet the traders could accept or reject it. You knew where you stood though. The problem with the current system is that you have absolutely no idea what will be accepted or not. There is nothing more annoying than depositing a certain amount into your account. Then you try and place a bet and be told that it is rejected and that you can have 1/100th of that. You then try to withdraw the money, which inevitably leads to ridiculous interactions with a helpdesk. Why did you deposit the money and withdraw it on the same day? Well that will be because I had no idea what bets I could have or otherwise. You wouldn’t let me place a bet for more than £1.25. Sometimes the withdrawals are easy in this situation and sometimes not (Tweet 132). If nothing else it’s just a terrible customer experience.
I cannot think of any other industry where this type of behaviour is allowed. It is insane the things that have been normalised in this industry. The Gambling Commission need to make it a term of a bookmakers licence. You have to display what the max bet a customer can have on a selection on a market once logged in. The technology to do so is literally decades old. This has nothing to do with stake restrictions. Just simply letting people know what bets they can and cannot place. The absolute basics. All we ask for is clarity and fairness. I would say that’s not too much to ask for but in this industry who knows.
ProPunting 