Bookies affordability checks - Big Brother wants to see your bank statements !

[Bluebeerd]

Enjoy a flutter on the match ?

If you are a punter, racing fan, footie fan, work within sport or simply care about personal freedom, you should add your name to the petition launched on Wednesday night for the government to scrap the implementation of affordability checks.

Archived Petition: Stop the implementation of betting affordability/financial risk checks

We want the Government to abandon the planned implementation of affordability checks for some people who want to place a bet. We believe such checks – which could include assessing whether people are ‘at risk of harm' based on their postcode or job title – are inappropriate and discriminatory.

petition.parliament.uk

In all probability, most members won't need reminding that affordability checks are objectionable, poorly conceived and should be scrapped, but just in case, here are five important reasons why you should sign the petition:

Affordability checks are an attack on our civil liberties​

Affordability checks have become such a common feature of gambling for many that it is easy to forget just what an unprecedented attack on our basic freedoms they are. Never before has a British government attempted to interfere in how individuals spend their own money. It is hard to think of a more objectionable real-world example of the 'nanny state' than the government insisting on financial checks for those deemed to be spending too much of their own money.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Get hold of a Spanish bank account and use a VPN with a personal IP.

 

[Chi-town blues]

What about all refs and officials ? Are they going to check their bank accounts?

 

[yarny101]

Get hold of a Spanish bank account and use a VPN with a personal IP.

How could you get a bank account without a Spanish address?

 

[Metal Biker]

I only voted once, bleeding hell ITV!

 

[blueste41]

Sod civil liberties, I make a living from gambling (matched betting) because bookies cut you off when you take the piss I operate accounts in friends/family names. Although I have a bank account in their name I fund the accounts with my cash which will be obvious if a bookie gets site of statements from the associated bank account!

 

[SilverFox2]

Get hold of a Spanish bank account and use a VPN with a personal IP.

How does a Spanish Bank Account make things easier?

 

[M18CTID]

Sod civil liberties, I make a living from gambling (matched betting) because bookies cut you off when you take the piss I operate accounts in friends/family names. Although I have a bank account in their name I fund the accounts with my cash which will be obvious if a bookie gets site of statements from the associated bank account!

Same here mate. To be honest, affordability/KYC (Know Your Customer) checks are an absolute ballache for us matched bettors, even though what we're doing is basically risk-free. It's even worse if, like you say, you're multi-accounting for friends and family which is what I do. A few years ago this wasn't an issue but they've tightened up on it so much lately. I've had Smarkets close my exchange account with them as they wanted to see not just my bank statements, but those of a couple of mates too!

 

[blueste41]

Same here mate. To be honest, affordability/KYC (Know Your Customer) checks are an absolute ballache for us matched bettors, even though what we're doing is basically risk-free. It's even worse if, like you say, you're multi-accounting for friends and family which is what I do. A few years ago this wasn't an issue but they've tightened up on it so much lately. I've had Smarkets close my exchange account with them as they wanted to see not just my bank statements, but those of a couple of mates too!

Yea seen a lot of people saying they lost exchanges because they couldn't get over the line (myself included-Matchbook) I just opened an account in my brother in laws name, same as I would a bookie for offers. :)

 

[M16 citeh]

Not surprising at all anyone who chooses to give money to these crooks is a fool