HBF Forum

You're still closed

No news, in this case, is bad news methinks.

Only legislation will force change and the sooner the BHA/HBF wake up to this reality the better.

Us too, was offered 10p on BETFAIR SPORTSBOOK yesterday and got a nice email from W HILL today.

Guess RP will have spoken to their bookmaker employers and together they will report a damage limiting response along the lines that Clare gave to Nick Luck some time ago.
Maybe:'Our shareholders expect us to protect our business by regular risk assessment reviews as any business would do'. '
Banning customers is the last thing we want to do and the great majority of our customers will be accommodated. We sometime have to restrict to ensure that as many of our loyal customers have a chance of being laid at the price'.
CH4 presenters have too much to lose to not go along with the spin as many will be seeking employment soon. McCririck best bet to tell it how it is but not sure which platform if one exists.

Steve, can you confirm that a "senior representative of a major bookmaker" was present at your meeting last week?

Who was it? And what did he/ she have to say on the subject of restrictions?

Or, more likely, did they make their excuses and not attend at all?

I can confirm that a senior representative of a major bookmaker attended last week's meeting, but that their identity will remain confidential for now. Their input both before and during the meeting was helpful and welcome, not least in assisting HBF in putting their public survey into a wider context.

The issue of restrictions/closures MUST be aligned to the FOBTs issue. Although the b/m are inevitably going to deny any link it's apparent that the character of the betting shop is changing and arguably (at best) the requirement of the Gambling Act that the primary purpose of a betting shop (that is the taking of bets on sporting and horse/dog racing) is or has been undermined.

BHA/HBF need, in my opinion, to get more publicity on the matter (the Guardian report is a good start) and get into the public consciousness the fact that the bookmakers (both retail on online) are operating a model that permits, nay encourages,betting on  products that do not permit long term profit for the punter  - whilst at the same time heavily restricting or closing ordinary people who dare to show some measure of control and discipline in their betting on events where skill and judgement can by exercised by the punter.  It should be made clear that making any sort of profit from betting on sports/racing is far from easy but is possible. That a profit is possible is the hook by which new punters are drawn into the game.The perception, created by the b/m, that the only people affected are professional punters should be shown for what it is - a lie.

The British public have an innate sense of fairness and I'm convinced that a properly orchestrated campaign will bear fruit.

Thanks. HBF knew that it was getting only a portion of the population of restricted/closed punters, so it was important to have the input of co-operative/enlightened bookmakers in order to gauge how the figures might apply more widely.

I'm hoping the survey doesn't give the impression that its the books are only banning/restricting the big hitters damaging their business.
They are actually targeting the non profitable.
That is to say that the enthusiast who follows the sport and does not lose sufficient funds on a regular basis will be affected.
I bet with the books probably once a month when I take an EP or AP to circa £50.
Last week I backed a winner and the manager told me that security had been on asking about my MO (was I arbing) and whether I was monitored.
That's my 5th bet this year with the firm and first winner. The BHF/Pundits/Presenters/BHA know this practice is typical yet refuse to address the issue.


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The good old "arbing" line. I cannot believe they even have the nerve to still use it.

Hopefully the issue is at least starting to get looked into, whether or not anything will get changed in the future we will see.

there is no hope for the whole industry

and here are my reasons why

all the high street bookies offers are the problem

for instance paddy power offer free bet if second to the sp favourite at one meeting per day

they also do an enhancement hour 4 horses pushed out in price to £50

they also do extra place races ie 1/4 odds 1-3 enhanced to 1-4

well if every high street punter went there and backed only in those races they will go bust

so what they do instead anyone who takes on their offers gets restricted

in my case i was backing £25 win or £25 each way and £50 max on their pushes

guess what i was well up about £9k i was told but it was nowhere near that (more on that later)

so now i have been told the shop have had an email from head office (or maybe its the shop managers decision)

i am on sp only and no each way bets and no enhanced prices etc

@stevetilley cheers for your above it makes sense and gives hope.

Now lets see how this is covered by the various bookmaker sponsored platforms. The RP report it on page 26 with no editorial comment.
Will it be discussed on ATRs Sun forum? I'm sure there will be plenty of viewers sending emails on the subject. Will they be ignored. Will the ML report it? Tanya is on the forum but no mention of the survey had she done so many more who were affected may have responded to the survey.
Dear me she on the forum to support punters!!!
If as expected it will be brushed under the carpet we may as well give up and find another interest.

fair play to you Steve, keep fighting the corner.

at the opposite end of the spectrum is Tanya, whilst people like her are on the panel you will have little or no chance of succeeding in bringing this to the forefront.

BHA and GC are dinosaurs living in a modern world, they will keep putting obstacles in your path.

Too many slurping at the gravy trough, MP's, pundits, presenters, etc.

Good luck.

Whilst wishing the HBF every success in convincing the Books that the every growing trend in closing / restricting is not good for anyone, I can't help but think there is some serious naivety in their belief that Bookmakers will / want to change their M/O.

We'll be waiting forever if we are happy to sit back and allow the Bookmakers to call the shots.

There is simply no mileage in negotiating with the Bookmakers without simultaneously pushing for legislative change    (although I see no point in negotiating with them whatsoever)

Reveal the name of the rep present at the last HBF meeting,  and I would guarantee I could have an account opened and restricted / closed within days.............."beware of Greeks bearing gifts".

rayman here's their twitter link

https://twitter.com/HbfBritain/with_replies

@ millhouse your above a good post and i agree but the other thing which might also help is to keep getting the message across to the punters not currently affected.They should consider what might await them.

Worry not the fearless Stewart Machin is about to grill the execrable Michael Shinners.

IDKW-You beat me to it this fellow cynic was about put up a similar thread. However the Posts Richard Hoiles did his best on Sat.

It is a small but positive step forward.The frustration is that any results will take time,but some of us have been closed down for a long time.What we need to do is keep posting to maintain awareness as i suspect that The Bookmakers concerned currently feel that interest will fade away along with the negative publicity.