Sky Bet Failed To Protect Vulnerable Customers, Says Watchdog
Sky Bet failed to secure susceptible clients, says watchdog
Sky Bet is to pay ₤ 1m for "failing to safeguard susceptible consumers", the Gambling Commission has said.
It did not stop problem gamblers even after they had asked to be prohibited from its websites, the guard dog stated.
Sky Bet primary executive Richard Flint said the firm accepted that it "required to do more" to stop self-excluded gamblers from opening duplicate accounts.
He included that Sky Bet had actually tried to return the money in their accounts.
People who feel they are having trouble controlling their betting can ask betting companies to decline their service.
But 736 self-excluded Sky Bet consumers had the ability to open and use replicate accounts, the Gambling Commission said.
In addition, about 50,000 people who had excluded themselves received marketing e-mails, texts or push alerts through a mobile app.
And 36,748 clients did not get the balance on their account returned after self-excluding.
Richard Watson, Gambling Commission programme director, said: "This was a severe failure affecting thousands of possibly vulnerable consumers and the ₤ 1m charge bundle ought to serve as a warning to all betting companies.
"Sky Bet reported the problems to us quickly, co-operated with us and has taken this investigation seriously."
Betting temptation
Matt, a student accountant from London, started betting 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 told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire program.
"You can't go to the bar on a Saturday afternoon without having the football on the TV, and then undoubtedly there's adverts that begin and you get the urge to wager.
"I could not watch a video game of football without having a bet on it.
Sky Bet failed to secure susceptible clients, says watchdog
Sky Bet is to pay ₤ 1m for "failing to safeguard susceptible consumers", the Gambling Commission has said.
It did not stop problem gamblers even after they had asked to be prohibited from its websites, the guard dog stated.
Sky Bet primary executive Richard Flint said the firm accepted that it "required to do more" to stop self-excluded gamblers from opening duplicate accounts.
He included that Sky Bet had actually tried to return the money in their accounts.
People who feel they are having trouble controlling their betting can ask betting companies to decline their service.
But 736 self-excluded Sky Bet consumers had the ability to open and use replicate accounts, the Gambling Commission said.
In addition, about 50,000 people who had excluded themselves received marketing e-mails, texts or push alerts through a mobile app.
And 36,748 clients did not get the balance on their account returned after self-excluding.
Richard Watson, Gambling Commission programme director, said: "This was a severe failure affecting thousands of possibly vulnerable consumers and the ₤ 1m charge bundle ought to serve as a warning to all betting companies.
"Sky Bet reported the problems to us quickly, co-operated with us and has taken this investigation seriously."
Betting temptation
Matt, a student accountant from London, started betting 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 told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire program.
"You can't go to the bar on a Saturday afternoon without having the football on the TV, and then undoubtedly there's adverts that begin and you get the urge to wager.
"I could not watch a video game of football without having a bet on it.