I've got hold of a report by the Gambling Commission that reveals for the first time how heavily operators rely on so-called "VIP" customers. VIP schemes have been at the heart of some of the most shocking transgressions by gambling companies.https://twitter.com/ByRobDavies/status/1212796153584066562 …
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Typically online casinos target people who lose large amounts of money and make them "VIPs", code for the biggest losers. They are then offered cashback on losing bets, free football tickets, bonus "spins", anything to keep them losing with the same company.
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The Gambling Commission demanded data from companies on their VIP schemes, which was disclosed to me after a Freedom of Information request. It reveals the huge scale of VIP schemes and how much bookmakers rely on them. It also shows that VIPs are much more likely to be addicts
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Lastly, it shows the Gambling Commission is so concerned about VIP schemes that it is considering much tighter restrictions, including an outright ban. That could be a serious problem for the UK gambling industry, still reeling from curbs on FOBTs.
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Pressure is building for a new Gambling Act that would, in all likelihood, make the landscape much tougher than the one that has existed since Blair's government liberalised gambling law in 2005.
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My understanding is that there is sympathy for tightening up gambling regulation within No10. Remember that Tracey Crouch, the sports minister who pioneered the FOBT curbs (and resigned over planned delays to them) is a Boris loyalist. Boris signed an anti-FOBT letter.
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All in all, it's going to be a hell of a year for the gambling industry.
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Replying to @ByRobDavies
What’s your view on the recent move some banks have made to let customers block gambling payments? Genuinely useful safeguarding or arse-covering/PR?
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Replying to @DawnHFoster
No it's good. It gives people that sometimes crucial opportunity to think twice. There's some self interest in there for sure...it isn't in banks' interests for their customers to bankrupt themselves.
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Ah, very glad to hear: it seemed really smart when I got push notifications from two of my banks, and hoped it was really positive and well-researched.
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