Sharp bettors have known for years that if they rack up the profits through their online betting account it’s only a matter of time before they’re restricted. Operators will often significantly slash the max bet they accept from these players to minimize their potential losses.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) collected data from licensees in 2024, encompassing nearly 15 million accounts. About 4.3% or 643,000 of these accounts are limited in some shape or form.
profitable accounts make up 47% of this restricted total, in comparison to just 25% of unrestricted
Lifetime profitable accounts make up 47% of this restricted total, in comparison to just 25% of unrestricted accounts. Showcasing how operators will limit bet sizes, 36% of restricted accounts could only wager at just 9% of a normal stake. Going even further, 22% of these people were more or less shut out as their limits were under 1% of a normal bet size.
The UKGC emphasized that it has no control over how sportsbooks “manage their commercial liabilities” and that there’s no protection for profitable bettors under discrimination law.
It did highlight how people who’re restricted will often turn to illegal gambling sites or try to open multiple accounts to try get around the controls, which undermines important compliance requirements for operators.
The regulator’s big takeaway is that sportsbooks should be upfront and transparent with users about the circumstances in which they face restrictions.
