Black Market Bookmakers Are A Risk To All And The Sport We Love
Many of you will have read of the threat of so called “black market” bookmakers in the racing media and elsewhere, and the HBF would like to issue a brief statement to all bettors, large and small.
With the threat of intrusive affordability checks, now and in the near future, new bookmakers and casinos are popping up everywhere offering a so called alternative option. Many bettors have reported to us about approaches via phone calls, e-mails or simple texts, offering new accounts with impressive looking bonuses while gleefully claiming that they will be circumventing any checks or rules imposed by the Gambling Commission as a positive marketing statement.
Before even considering these illegal operators we would like to make everyone aware that:
Your deposit and/or any winnings are not secure, something you are unlikely to find out until you attempt to make a withdrawal.
Bonuses – if it sounds too good to be true it almost certainly is. Illegal bookmakers often offer ridiculous bonuses of (for example) £5000 if you deposit £1000 – these are clearly not sustainable and are merely a way to get you to part with the original amount.
Data protection – you won’t have any, these people operate outside all the laws we currently take for granted. Your bank and card details are often sold on to third parties without your knowledge – if you aren’t happy to give your details to your High Street bookmaker why would you hand them over to a complete stranger?
Dispute Resolution – if you have a dispute with a licensed bookmaker you can write to IBAS (Independent Betting Adjudication Service) who mediate and settle any disputes between customers and bookmakers – not so with Black market operators, you are on your own.
The Levy – a percentage of licenced bookmakers income/profit is collected to help to fund the sport of horse racing via the levy. No such agreement exists elsewhere which has the potential to starve the sport of much needed funds – if you love your racing why would you wish to harm it?
Organised Crime – it is a known fact that many illegal bookmakers are part of a larger organised crime network. Punters are unknowingly funding all sorts of nefarious activities from people smuggling to drugs.
Problem Gamblers – much the HBF may (and does) disagree with affordability checks in their current form, the objective of protecting people either with or at risk of gambling harm is to be lauded. Black market operators have no such rules to follow, and no conscience regarding the harm they can and will inflict.