Banned from Bookies

Punters are shocked when they find out bookies can ban online betting accounts or even bet in UK betting shops for some people – this often happens for customers who are winning too much.

Bookmakers are ultimately businesses, and they are not legally obliged to take bets.

We regularly receive various stories and grievances about being banned by confident corporate bookies.

Have you been gubbed by bet365, gubbed by William Hill, or gubbed by Paddy Power and wondering why your accounts are closed or heavily restricted with bets? Many online sports bettors are sourcing betting companies with no limits to allow high-stakes bets.

Find out more today about being banned from a bookmaker, including the reasons this can happen, how to avoid it and also how to restrict yourself if you feel your betting is out of control.

Find out more about betting bans:

What is Being Banned by A Bookmaker?

It is as it sounds, a bookmaker will stop accepting bets from an individual and impose a betting ban on them.

A bookmaker can give you a ban for a specific period or a lifetime ban if they see fit.

This decision is entirely up to the discretion of a bookmaker; as a business, it is up to them to choose with whom they do business.

Although betting is a hobby and pastime to most, it is obviously business for a bookmaker and the choice of who they “do business with” is theirs.

A person may find themselves banned from their local bookies or their online horse racing betting account for a number of reasons, which we explore below. We think they are all very valid, although it seems unfair to be banned when winning too much, especially if this is all fair and above board.

Who Are The Best Bookmakers For Large Bets?

The best two bookmakers for wagering large sums of money are Betfair Exchange and Tote Betting.

If you have a restricted betting account, then signing up for Totesport and Betfair is a great solution.

Why Does Tote Not Ban Punters or Close Accounts?

There are no limits to the amount of money that can be staked or won on a Tote bet. Unlike most bookmakers who can ban or restrict your account, Tote allow you to enjoy unlimited fun. Place bets all you want without the dread of having your account restricted.

If you want to wager significant amounts of money, you need to register with Tote, which currently offers a ‘bet 10, get 30’ sign-up bonus.

Tote is known to be a lot more generous with its bet size limits and tends not to close or restrict sports bettors.

Shrewd punters used to not wager with Tote because “the size of the betting pool provides a natural limit to the available winnings”. But now, with SP, you get the best of both, and if the Tote dividend is lower than the starting price, you get paid on the highest odds.

Here are some of the reasons you should look into signing up with Tote:

• Minimum SP odds with the Tote Guarantee Betting
• Bigger wins with dividends from Tote Pool Bets
• Place bets on sports without the Internet using the Tote Text Betting Service
• Get 10% higher winnings using the Tote Plus offer
• Voted as the number 1 unlimited bet sports bookmaker

Why Does Betfair Exchange Not Ban Punters or Close Accounts?

Betfair has no reason to ban or close your betting account when you are betting against other exchange users.

Register an account with Betfair Exchange, which currently offers a bet £5, get £20 welcome bonus and does not restrict bets on the exchange markets.

Betfair’s exchange is similar to eBay but for betting.

Peer-to-peer betting involves placing bets against other exchange users, so the bookmaker has no exposure to fixed-odds sportsbook markets.

Reasons For Being Banned From A Betting Shop

The most common reasons for being banned from a betting shop are:

• Aggressive or rude behaviour towards staff
• Winning too much, especially if it is considered that you have inside information or an unfair advantage
• If they think you are a professional gambler
• Irregular or suspicious betting patterns
• If the bookie feels you have a problem and is trying to curb this and help you
• Abusing bonuses with multiple accounts, read more on the right way to do this

Reasons For Being Banned from Online Betting

The most common reasons for being banned from betting online:

• Winning too much
• Irregular or suspicious betting patterns
• If the bookmaker thinks you are a professional gambler
• Gubbing – read more in our What is Gubbing? article
• If the bookie feels you have a problem and is trying to curb this, and help you

How To Avoid Being Banned By Bookmakers?

Some of the reasons are fair enough. If you are rude to staff in a betting shop, we think you deserve a ban, and if you have a perceived problem, we believe you should be getting help, but if you are a legitimate punter and are banned for winning too much, that can seem unfair.

The best techniques to stop getting banned by the bookies for this reason are:

• Spread your bets across multiple bookies (keeping bet amounts below a £500 stake ideally) – essentially have multiple online betting accounts or visit different local betting shops. Diversify bookies, so sign up with Betfair, William Hill, Ladbrokes, bet365, Unibet, etc.
• Stake bets in round numbers – you are less likely to look like a pro-punter then.
• Place your fixed odds bets early
• Place some Acca bets with multiple selections
• Avoid gubbing

Some bookies might not ban your account, but could restrict stakes to low amounts.

How to avoid being restricted by bookmakers?

To avoid being restricted by bookmakers, you must appear like a casual punter. Bookies track behaviour, not just winnings. Follow these steps to prevent being restricted by bookies:

• Avoid betting at best odds every time – Always backing the best price flags you as a sharp.
• Don’t always bet on obscure markets – Constant value hunting in niche events attracts attention.
• Mix up your stakes and bet types – Varying bet sizes and placing multiples can make you look recreational.
• Withdraw modestly – Taking out large sums regularly signals profitability.
• Use multiple bookmakers – Spread your action to avoid patterns forming on a single account.
• Don’t abuse promotions – Exploiting free bets and bonuses gets you marked quickly.
• Lose occasionally – It sounds ridiculous, but unbroken winning runs look suspicious.
• Bet on popular events – Casual punters flock to big matches and races. Stick to where the crowd is.

Bookmakers restrict accounts to protect the margin. If your activity suggests you cost them money, they’ll act.

Can I Ban Myself From The Bookies?

If gambling is a problem for you and you’re gambling beyond your means, or it is just causing your anxiety and stress, you should stop.

All of the leading UK bookmakers are fantastic at helping problem gamblers – they will close your account quickly, freeze an account, impose time-outs, impose gambling limits and more, all to allow you to bring this problem under control.

Here at British Racecourses, we are strong advocates of responsible gambling. Follow the links on our pages to get professional help if you think that you need this.

Summary of Being Banned From a Bookmakers

Customers get banned from bookmakers for a whole range of reasons, as mentioned above.

As covered, this can be due to a variety of reasons, from being rude to staff to winning too much on winning bets. We think being banned for winning is tough, especially if you’re on a lucky streak or doing well with your betting.

On the other hand, please remember to gamble responsibly and, when the fun stops, stop.