- This topic has 20 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 11:29 am , 14/12 by
tt69.
-
Posts
-
L0U
Being new to MB and having now spent a few days reading around, and having read a few ‘horror stories’ about being scammed (no pay outs, etc) does anybody else do research to check the reputation of a bookmaker before signing up?
I think that making the first step of checking the Gambling Commission’s website to see if a bookie actually holds a UK license before signing up would be a wise move. Can anybody offer guidance as to any other ‘warning signs’ to look out for?
Thankyou in advance!
Profile 42
Hi L0U,
If a bookmaker doesn’t have a license the gambling commission will shut them down pretty quickly. It’s best to start with the mainstream bookmakers as you are new. Brands you will know such as Coral, William Hill, Bet365 and so forth.
Some of the smaller ones have been known to delay payout in the past. You could check bookmaker “reviews” but this is an even bigger problem on the internet than problem bookmakers. Reviews can be and are often bought. In some cases, companies own the review sites!
Here is an article from the BBC about it.
They bought some themselves to test it out:
With internet privacy and data protection being so important, it is unlikely to change any time soon. On one hand, privacy is protected, but on the other, so are fake reviews.
The best answer might be to share your experiences on the forum if you are refused a payout. At worst I think you may experience a delayed-release in funds.
Hope that helps!
Thankyou for your reply Profile 42, and I totally agree with you about maybe having somewhere on this forum to share people’s experiences of various bookmakers.
Another thread from here mentioning the ‘closure’ / ‘suspension’ of one of the smaller bookmakers has sparked off my thinking of risks involved and trying to think of ways to mitigate those risks, so think I will start my MB journey with (as you say) the more established ones.
I was also thinking of looking at Company House, but seeing alot are owned by parent companies, that are doing pretty well for themselves, that would make that search invalid?
(Online reviews, I do take with a largeish pinch of salt though. Data Protection is a double-edged sword and since we’re all anonymous in online-land? Proceed with caution!)
Thankyou once again,
L0U
Simon
Caution with sportpesa I have seen they are not so reliable
I agree L0U!
If you don’t keep a large balance at first this is probably the best course of action. In May there was an update to the way bookies verify accounts so a lot of the holding money back while they check your identity has been chopped back.
Simon – great shout, thanks for sharing. Maybe we should keep this topic for anyone that wants to update an experience.
Thankyou Simon, another one for ‘Room 101’.
Profile 42 – I’ve have found a site called [plug removed] it looks like their reviews are written by the site owners rather than by the general public, and there are lists of who are or aren’t reputable. Maybe it’s also worth checking here also for safety and peace of mind?
As for large balances, not yet, no. One day, hopefully 🙂
Moderator: plug removed. I’m sure this was a genuine post but we don’t permit direct plugs/links on the forum.
mikeysport
They are all dodgy if they are loosing money.
Why you are learning, making mistakes is your biggest problem for now.
measure twice and cut once
Good Luck mate
steph82
measure twice cut once is the best thing I have heard all week mikey! It made me’lol’.
Good advice mikeysport, and hence taking me ages to place my first lot of MB’s this weekend.
Effort is worth it though… 🙂
jake morris
sport pesa have a bad reputation for being a pain if you are careful about how much money you keep with them its okay.
Blakey22
I had trouble with come on so seeing they are stopping is satisfying!
Rox
There are a lot of them stopping lately aren’t there. Lots of new small bookies cropping up too. Why do you think this is?
I think they are struggling to make enough cash between regulation, smart bettors and competativeness of the market place. Betting is big business.
Yes I don’t trust some of the small ones with all of my matched betting balance.
kengp1945
A passing mention by CB in course notes is worth taking serious note of to guard against
dodgy snake bookmakers.
ALWAYS get account identity accepted and approved before you put a penny into the account.
That will close one of the biggest loop holes that some less scrupulous sites use to screw you around
as a way to hang on to your money.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
