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We regularly have members e-mail us relaying various stories and grievances about being banned by certain bookies. The first time it happens can be quite pleasing in some respects, but it quickly gets incredibly frustrating.
As a result we decided to write an article about potential ways to avoid being banned by the corporates.
If you continue to follow successful horse racing and sports betting services with Winning Edge Investments, you'll see the value of your corporate bookies accounts increasing over time. Whilst this is obviously the aim, and very pleasing, unfortunately it may come (or have already come) with an unwanted side effect - We’re talking about being banned by your bookie, and it’s, a problem encountered by successful punters throughout the world.
While many bookmakers are good at generating publicity for taking large bets, you may be surprised just how quickly they ban winning punters. Some bookies only want the ‘mug money’, and target those who have been long-term losing TAB punters. Winners might be grinners, but they can also be quickly banned.
Note that fortunately in Australia this issue has been mitigated to some degree, with Minimum Bet Laws now in place with all bookmakers, ensuring even banned and restricted punters can get set.
When deciding whether to limit your bets or close your account, bookmakers will analyse many factors, including:
1) Bet Size:
As a general rule the bigger the bets, the more likely it is for your account to be flagged
2) Bet Staking:
Punters wagering very specific amounts (for example $117 on one bet, $88 the next)
3) Bet Timing:
If you’re betting just before the jump, it doesn’t allow the bookie to manage his risk or exposure as well as they would like
4) Specialising:
If you bet exclusively within a certain state (or sport) you’re also more likely to be limited or banned
5) Profitability:
Both in terms of dollars and profit on turnover. Bookmakers run client profiling software over your account to ascertain whether you’re winning at a level that is higher than they are comfortable with
6) Withdrawals:
How much money are you taking out of your account, and are they likely to get these funds back?
So how do you avoid being banned, or otherwise find a way to still get your bets on? Some suggestions are as follows:
1) Spread your bets across multiple bookies.
We would consider this particularly important if you are betting over $80 per unit. Although we continually spruik the merits of holding accounts with numerous bookies, they will ban you eventually if you are betting in large unit sizes and winning.
Consider having a portion of your stake with these bookies, and placing the rest with other bookmakers (or Betfair!!). Bets of over $100 often trigger a review. So if we suggest having say 1.8 units on a runner, and you are betting $100 per unit (total bet $180), consider having $60 bets with three different bookies.
2) Consider staking your bets in 'round numbers'.
This is actually why the staking for our services are usually in round numbers (e.g. 1 unit, 2 units, 0.5 units, 1.5 units etc). If you are staking in exact/specific amounts (e.g. $91, $132 etc), the bookies may assume you are following a service, or staking using a measured system or strategy. As a result they may cotton on to you quickly once you start winning.
If a suggestion is for 0.91 units and you bet $100 per unit, you may want to consider staking 0.90 units instead. Alternatively, place say $80 across one or two bookies, and the other $11 with another bookie. Although an uneven number, at least because the $11 unit staking is small, and hence the bookie will be less concerned.
3) Place your fixed odds bets early where practicable.
Not seconds before race start time. This allows the bookie time to manage their risk or exposure by betting back through corporates.
4) Diversify
If you usually only bet on certain sports, or certain days / meetings / venues, hopefully our services add another dimension to your betting portfolio which reduces the bookie's belief that you are specialising in anything in particular, and may even have the bookies believing you are just sitting around at home bored betting on the main racing events. You can look at a range of potential options here: Products - Winning Edge Investments
5) Small meaningless bets
It can be worth having a number of small meaningless bets to reduce your average bet size in their systems, and have small bets across other states, on various obscure sports or overseas races etc.
Even if you just break even, or even make a slight loss, the reduction in your average bet size and the fact the bookie thinks they might get some of your winnings back will have them leave your account open for longer. It's all about the bookie not believing that you are only following a tried and true method which will undoubtedly produce long term profits. As soon as they see you are 100% structured, measured, and are not going to be a losing punter long term, they will eventually cotton on to you and close your account.
The longer you can hold them off from restricting or closing your account, the better!
Placing bets on multis and major sporting events are good ways of keeping bookies off your scent. You can always place the opposite bets with another bookie, or lay off on Betfair.
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