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30 Jan 23
08:20
Joined:
Date Joined:
24 Nov 10
Lady behind counter asked me mine as I was placing my wedge of £20 each way bets in Betbalds in Stoke town centre......just in case the area manager says anything....??
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... Should have said your name was Tony Bloom.!
exactly.......
.....just thought it was interest re-the Post article today about checks in shops....
.....just thought it was interest re-the Post article today about checks in shops....
I wasn't asked my name exactly, but when i placed a 2023 Cheltenham ante-post bet with PP on December 5th (it was a few bob) i was asked for ID. I told the guy i lived in Germany and showed him my EU residency card, but i didn't want him to make a photocopy. If he had insisted, i would have gone elsewhere, but he didn't.
I imagine may are being stopped when paying by card....it will of course point you out if they have asked for details on your online account.
As some of you may know I won a bundle off Billy in 2021.
I cannot put a similar bet with them online now.
Just for the devilment I go in their shops and put these bets on .....paying by cash.
As some of you may know I won a bundle off Billy in 2021.
I cannot put a similar bet with them online now.
Just for the devilment I go in their shops and put these bets on .....paying by cash.
Any bet over 5k in a shop proof of identity must be provided or the bet will not be put on.
Ronnie.
Ronnie.
to meet affordability demands
Affordability checks are affecting betting shop punters as well as those online
Affordability checks are affecting betting shop punters as well as those online
1 of 1
By Peter Scargill
UPDATED 7:42PM, JAN 29 2023
Punters are increasingly finding themselves denied entrance to betting shops if failing to provide bookmakers with detailed personal financial information, shining further light on the growing reach of intrusive affordability and source-of-funds checks.
Online gamblers have increasingly faced requests from bookmakers, under pressure from the industry regulator, the Gambling Commission, for personal documents such as payslips and bank statements to allow them to continue betting, with accounts closed or heavily restricted if these requests are denied.
However, bettors placing wagers in retail outlets are also being hit with demands for proof they can afford to bet, while one betting shop employee spoken to by the Racing Post said staff were under increased pressure over the past 12 months to seek information from their customers.
Requests for identification and financial documentation to continue betting resulted in Michelle Wills being stopped from betting in her local branch of Betfred, she has claimed, after she was unable and unwilling to provide the information.
In a letter to the Racing Post, she said: “I'm 58 years old and have enjoyed gambling all of my adult life. On entry to my local betting shop in December, I was given an envelope from a member of staff and I was shocked to discover a letter from Betfred starting ‘Dear Customer’.
“The letter said that I was not allowed to gamble in any Betfred shop in the UK until I provided photo identification, namely a passport or driving licence. Unfortunately, I have never had a driving licence and my passport expired over 20 years ago. In addition to this, the company wanted three months' worth of bank statements and a source of funds.
“After careful consideration I decided not to send my personal information and therefore I have been unable to gamble in Betfred shops. I have lived in Dawlish since 2006 and am well known to the staff in the shop, but I now have to travel to another town to gamble.”
Simon Edwards, a punter from Devon, said he had been blocked from entering any William Hill betting shop after he had refused to hand over financial documents to allow him to continue betting with the firm online.
Having had his account closed by William Hill, Edwards placed a £52 football accumulator using his debit card in one of the operator’s shops. However, when he went to collect his £74 winnings, he claims he was told he was not allowed to enter the building as he had not provided the information asked of him when affordability checks were imposed online.
Edwards, who contacted the Racing Post in a letter published in Sunday's newspaper, took his case to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service and was paid out, but expressed frustration at the impact the checks were having on his ability to bet.
“It’s been a nightmare for a long time and it’s not good betting now,” he said when speaking to the Racing Post. “I don’t mind if they restrict me to a few pence, it happens when you’re winning, but what’s going on now is getting silly. I just don’t understand it.
Simon Edwards: "I don’t mind if they restrict me to a few pence, it happens when you’re winning, but what’s going on now is getting silly"
Simon Edwards: "I don’t mind if they restrict me to a few pence, it happens when you’re winning, but what’s going on now is getting silly"
“People in this shop were there looking at me thinking I’m dodgy, that I must be up to something, but all I have done is not provide them with personal financial information.”
Betfred and William Hill were contacted for comment on Sunday.
The challenges around in-shop affordability checks have not been limited to customers, with staff expressing concerns over having to intervene more regularly to ascertain the source of funds the punters are using and their ability to afford to place bets.
A betting shop employee based in Scotland who works for a major high street firm, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of losing their job, said customers had been confrontational when asked for documentation and that the checks were getting more regular.
The employee said: “Customers think we’re picking on them when we approach them, but we’re under pressure to intervene. We get alerts when there has been spending at certain levels, particularly on the FOBTs, if it seems that someone is overspending. When we go and ask they can get angry but it’s what we are meant to do.
“When I’ve asked people I’ve been told to go and f*** myself, that it’s none of my damn business and had people say to me that they’d be waiting for me outside after the shop closed.
"It’s scary and luckily nothing has happened to me so far, but one day it might. Others have been fine, said they’d get the documents and be back the next day and I’ve never seen them again.
“I understand why my employer is asking me to do this. They’re caught in the middle and I’m not angry at them as a result, and they have to because they can face hefty fines. I know other employees in betting shops and there’s a lot of disgruntlement at having to do this and the consensus is that they do not like being put in the position to do it.
“Having been a betting shop punter, I know what I’d have said if approached to hand over these documents.”
Affordability checks are affecting betting shop punters as well as those online
Affordability checks are affecting betting shop punters as well as those online
1 of 1
By Peter Scargill
UPDATED 7:42PM, JAN 29 2023
Punters are increasingly finding themselves denied entrance to betting shops if failing to provide bookmakers with detailed personal financial information, shining further light on the growing reach of intrusive affordability and source-of-funds checks.
Online gamblers have increasingly faced requests from bookmakers, under pressure from the industry regulator, the Gambling Commission, for personal documents such as payslips and bank statements to allow them to continue betting, with accounts closed or heavily restricted if these requests are denied.
However, bettors placing wagers in retail outlets are also being hit with demands for proof they can afford to bet, while one betting shop employee spoken to by the Racing Post said staff were under increased pressure over the past 12 months to seek information from their customers.
Requests for identification and financial documentation to continue betting resulted in Michelle Wills being stopped from betting in her local branch of Betfred, she has claimed, after she was unable and unwilling to provide the information.
In a letter to the Racing Post, she said: “I'm 58 years old and have enjoyed gambling all of my adult life. On entry to my local betting shop in December, I was given an envelope from a member of staff and I was shocked to discover a letter from Betfred starting ‘Dear Customer’.
“The letter said that I was not allowed to gamble in any Betfred shop in the UK until I provided photo identification, namely a passport or driving licence. Unfortunately, I have never had a driving licence and my passport expired over 20 years ago. In addition to this, the company wanted three months' worth of bank statements and a source of funds.
“After careful consideration I decided not to send my personal information and therefore I have been unable to gamble in Betfred shops. I have lived in Dawlish since 2006 and am well known to the staff in the shop, but I now have to travel to another town to gamble.”
Simon Edwards, a punter from Devon, said he had been blocked from entering any William Hill betting shop after he had refused to hand over financial documents to allow him to continue betting with the firm online.
Having had his account closed by William Hill, Edwards placed a £52 football accumulator using his debit card in one of the operator’s shops. However, when he went to collect his £74 winnings, he claims he was told he was not allowed to enter the building as he had not provided the information asked of him when affordability checks were imposed online.
Edwards, who contacted the Racing Post in a letter published in Sunday's newspaper, took his case to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service and was paid out, but expressed frustration at the impact the checks were having on his ability to bet.
“It’s been a nightmare for a long time and it’s not good betting now,” he said when speaking to the Racing Post. “I don’t mind if they restrict me to a few pence, it happens when you’re winning, but what’s going on now is getting silly. I just don’t understand it.
Simon Edwards: "I don’t mind if they restrict me to a few pence, it happens when you’re winning, but what’s going on now is getting silly"
Simon Edwards: "I don’t mind if they restrict me to a few pence, it happens when you’re winning, but what’s going on now is getting silly"
“People in this shop were there looking at me thinking I’m dodgy, that I must be up to something, but all I have done is not provide them with personal financial information.”
Betfred and William Hill were contacted for comment on Sunday.
The challenges around in-shop affordability checks have not been limited to customers, with staff expressing concerns over having to intervene more regularly to ascertain the source of funds the punters are using and their ability to afford to place bets.
A betting shop employee based in Scotland who works for a major high street firm, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of losing their job, said customers had been confrontational when asked for documentation and that the checks were getting more regular.
The employee said: “Customers think we’re picking on them when we approach them, but we’re under pressure to intervene. We get alerts when there has been spending at certain levels, particularly on the FOBTs, if it seems that someone is overspending. When we go and ask they can get angry but it’s what we are meant to do.
“When I’ve asked people I’ve been told to go and f*** myself, that it’s none of my damn business and had people say to me that they’d be waiting for me outside after the shop closed.
"It’s scary and luckily nothing has happened to me so far, but one day it might. Others have been fine, said they’d get the documents and be back the next day and I’ve never seen them again.
“I understand why my employer is asking me to do this. They’re caught in the middle and I’m not angry at them as a result, and they have to because they can face hefty fines. I know other employees in betting shops and there’s a lot of disgruntlement at having to do this and the consensus is that they do not like being put in the position to do it.
“Having been a betting shop punter, I know what I’d have said if approached to hand over these documents.”
My bets were a score each way.......thought that would place me under the radar
my you I do visit about 20 shops a day!!!+
my you I do visit about 20 shops a day!!!+
Mr C
Regarding your recent post out of the proof of funds forms i have given out not ONE has been returned, and as the staff member saysthe abuse the staff get is shocking.
Ronnie.
Regarding your recent post out of the proof of funds forms i have given out not ONE has been returned, and as the staff member saysthe abuse the staff get is shocking.
Ronnie.
Know 888 have problems as Stan said to Olly. or was it Olly said to Stan thats another fine mess you have got us into.Sad to say the bookmaking game is a total MESS.
Ronnie.
Ronnie.
No identification needed to buy as many scratch cards as you want.
How does Laura get on after winning thousands by following the various knights for years?
Is simples don't bet don't go in it's all going mad.
And we all know who is driving this lunacy.
Jan 30, 2023 -- 4:18AM, ronnie rails wrote:
Mr CRegarding your recent post out of the proof of funds forms i have given out not ONE has been returned, and as the staff member saysthe abuse the staff get is shocking.Ronnie.
Exactly the same here,
Get alerts every morning to have chat with said clients if loss is over xyz
Do I look like a social worker ,
All thus bet to ya pocket bullish every day
Sad to say the state of play is if you win to much you cant have a bet, if you loose to much you cant have a bet.Where is head in your hands man when we need him.
Ronnie.
Ronnie.
And you cannot run a business that share price took a bit of a hit this morning Ronnie when will it all end lunatics seem to be running the asylum.
In 1980 the woman behind the counter in the Mecca bookies asked my name, we got married within a month and are still happily married.
name sent straight to head office, check list of names they definitely don't share with each other ...
@hulk23
"list of names they definitely don't share with each other"
Why on earth would they? Unless it's brands in the same group (Lads/Corals, Sky/BF/PP) why would they do anything to help a rival?
"list of names they definitely don't share with each other"
Why on earth would they? Unless it's brands in the same group (Lads/Corals, Sky/BF/PP) why would they do anything to help a rival?
sixtwosix be carefull betting in hills shops ok you bet in cash but if you get another big win its likely they wont pay out in cash and then there could be problems .
Foylsewar
if the shares go down on Tuesday as much as they have gone down today they will have nothing to pay out with. Sad to say the game is a total mess.
hope you are well.
Ronnie.
if the shares go down on Tuesday as much as they have gone down today they will have nothing to pay out with. Sad to say the game is a total mess.
hope you are well.
Ronnie.
@longo get your point but i reckon they do. swings / roundabouts, Lads/Corals will identify someone who is deemed a 'problem' (ie shrewd, beats prices, backs winners, targets bonuses / price boosts, doesn't gamble recklessly, isn't losing quickly enough - all the stuff they hate) add his name to the list to help everyone, Sky/BF/PP do the same. all in it together so each of them ends up with a portfolio of grade A mugs and fobt merchants. anyone with a clue is banished to here, with uncle paddy monitoring their bets.
sixtwosix be carefull betting in hills shops ok you bet in cash but if you get another big win its likely they wont pay out in cash and then there could be problems .
That would be a nice problem to have ....don't think it will happen , but appreciate the comment.
That would be a nice problem to have ....don't think it will happen , but appreciate the comment.
I tell this to all non believers about the depths the staff will sink to put your name on the system, a manager couldnt get a customers name who had just shifted into the area she had asked everyone that frequented the shop, One daay she was dropping off her grand children to the local primary school and the said customer was doing the same, she started to play a big of gob **** tennis with some of the other parents asking about who he was , low and behold she got his name , address etc and although it wasnt her working day went into her work place and immediately placed his name on the system,
I asked her why she did it and was told bluntly " its nothing to do with me try and prove where i got his name " " im just trying to keep myself in a job"
I asked her why she did it and was told bluntly " its nothing to do with me try and prove where i got his name " " im just trying to keep myself in a job"
I'm not knocking Billy .....they still let me have an account and put on perms and accumulators.....so long as they don't contain any horses ....so I do.
If I did win a bundle in a shop , they would not know it was me ....unless they used cctv to time the bet placed .....good job I go in disguise......
If I did win a bundle in a shop , they would not know it was me ....unless they used cctv to time the bet placed .....good job I go in disguise......
What’s the name sir….fkn Santa ffs….who would have thought this garbage would be the end result…
626 if you did have a big win , its likely they wont want to pay you in cash ,it will have to go in your bank account or similar unless you have other avenues .
my son is a manager for billys , ronnie or other shop managers a question "the friends and family rules " i was on the verge of a massive win a while back i placed the bet in my local billys ,i was waiting on the last leg of an ante post acca if successfull it would have come to well over £300,000 ,i started to think of things that could go wrong if the last leg came in all thoughts were going through my mind then i realised the staff in the shop where i placed the bet knew my son worked for billys and the friends and family rules played on my mind and i had a few sleepless nights in the event the last leg got beat copped a good few grand on the doubles trebles and singles but lost a lot of sleep worrying if it was succesfull if they could have wormed their way out of it . anyone know if they could have got out of paying out ?
I know someone who has threaten to take Baldy to court numerous times on behalf of others,
He has backed down everytime, the day before
He has backed down everytime, the day before
Out of interest a few months ago I asked a a shop that sold lottery products what they would do if I told them I had a gambling problem while asking for hundreds of pounds worth of scratch cards.
The manager was called, it was pretty comical because I was only asking as I bought shopping but the manager came out and then followed instructions that she had been given regarding the issue. She proceeded to print out a slip from the lottery machine that read;
‘HEALTHY PLAY
DREAM BIG PLAY SMALL
National lottery games should always be fun, playing in a way that is right for you
If you are worried about yourself or someone you know speak in confidence to the people of GamCare 24/7 on xxxxxxxx or visit xxxxxxx
IS THIS HELPFUL¿
Take a quick survey to let us know and take our test to see what kind of player you are.
She handed it over and said that’s it, nothing to stop you buying what you want.
On the back it says they are regulated by the GC, and that for payouts over 500 quid a form has to be filled out and identification provided.
So all in all a s hitfest of mixed messages regarding how the GC enforce different types of gambling and requirements regarding collecting winnings.
The manager was called, it was pretty comical because I was only asking as I bought shopping but the manager came out and then followed instructions that she had been given regarding the issue. She proceeded to print out a slip from the lottery machine that read;
‘HEALTHY PLAY
DREAM BIG PLAY SMALL
National lottery games should always be fun, playing in a way that is right for you
If you are worried about yourself or someone you know speak in confidence to the people of GamCare 24/7 on xxxxxxxx or visit xxxxxxx
IS THIS HELPFUL¿
Take a quick survey to let us know and take our test to see what kind of player you are.
She handed it over and said that’s it, nothing to stop you buying what you want.
On the back it says they are regulated by the GC, and that for payouts over 500 quid a form has to be filled out and identification provided.
So all in all a s hitfest of mixed messages regarding how the GC enforce different types of gambling and requirements regarding collecting winnings.
Are you OK for getting what you want on T O T E at the racecourse windows ? The reason I ask is because I believe they match SP up to £500 if their return is less.
Went in WH's to back Luxembourg ante post for Derby around this time last year. Never been in that particular shop before and only really went in to see what the processes were. Wanted £200 on and after ringing up etc it was taken but they asked for my name (not id). Refused to give it and they said they were doing me a favour re safer gambling. Never been back to shop and the whole thing is a farce. They don't give a f**k about problem gamblers they just want to know if you have an online restricted account with them so they can ban you from the shop as well. They are well aware that loads who can't get on online are going to the shops. Playing the man not the ball.
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