Sky Bet Failed To Protect Vulnerable Customers, Says Watchdog
Sky Bet failed to secure susceptible consumers, states watchdog
Sky Bet is to pay ₤ 1m for "failing to safeguard susceptible customers", the Gambling Commission has said.
It did not stop issue bettors even after they had asked to be banned from its sites, the guard dog said.
Sky Bet primary executive Richard Flint said the firm accepted that it "required to do more" to stop self-excluded bettors from opening duplicate accounts.
He added that Sky Bet had actually tried to return the money in their accounts.
People who feel they are having trouble managing their betting can ask wagering firms to decline their service.
But 736 self-excluded Sky Bet customers had the ability to open and use replicate accounts, the Gambling Commission said.
In addition, about 50,000 individuals who had omitted themselves got marketing e-mails, texts or push notices through a mobile app.
And 36,748 consumers did not get the balance on their account returned after self-excluding.
Richard Watson, Gambling Commission programme director, stated: "This was a severe failure impacting thousands of potentially susceptible consumers and the ₤ 1m charge bundle must work as a cautioning to all gambling businesses.
"Sky Bet reported the problems to us quickly, co-operated with us and has actually taken this investigation seriously."
Betting temptation
Matt, a trainee accounting professional from London, started gambling as quickly as he turned 18. He states he lost as much as ₤ 30,000.
"It's a 'lad culture' thing," the 22-year-old recently informed the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire program.
"You can't go to the club on a Saturday afternoon without having the football on the TV, and then clearly there's adverts that begin and you get the urge to wager.
"I couldn't watch a video game of football without having a bet on it.
Sky Bet failed to secure susceptible consumers, states watchdog
Sky Bet is to pay ₤ 1m for "failing to safeguard susceptible customers", the Gambling Commission has said.
It did not stop issue bettors even after they had asked to be banned from its sites, the guard dog said.
Sky Bet primary executive Richard Flint said the firm accepted that it "required to do more" to stop self-excluded bettors from opening duplicate accounts.
He added that Sky Bet had actually tried to return the money in their accounts.
People who feel they are having trouble managing their betting can ask wagering firms to decline their service.
But 736 self-excluded Sky Bet customers had the ability to open and use replicate accounts, the Gambling Commission said.
In addition, about 50,000 individuals who had omitted themselves got marketing e-mails, texts or push notices through a mobile app.
And 36,748 consumers did not get the balance on their account returned after self-excluding.
Richard Watson, Gambling Commission programme director, stated: "This was a severe failure impacting thousands of potentially susceptible consumers and the ₤ 1m charge bundle must work as a cautioning to all gambling businesses.
"Sky Bet reported the problems to us quickly, co-operated with us and has actually taken this investigation seriously."
Betting temptation
Matt, a trainee accounting professional from London, started gambling as quickly as he turned 18. He states he lost as much as ₤ 30,000.
"It's a 'lad culture' thing," the 22-year-old recently informed the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire program.
"You can't go to the club on a Saturday afternoon without having the football on the TV, and then clearly there's adverts that begin and you get the urge to wager.
"I couldn't watch a video game of football without having a bet on it.