Gambling: Is it all ‘Fair and Open’?

‘Justice for Punters’ aims to achieve radical and long lasting changes to the way in which off-course bookmakers operate, helping to fulfill one of the primary aims of the UK Gambling Commission, namely that gambling is ‘fair and open’.

At present, it is not, and this website will highlight the hundreds of reasons why.  How can anything be ‘fair and open‘ when a service provider can bankrupt some people, whilst refusing £5.00 bets from others without giving a reason:  It’s simply shocking!

This website is relevant to everyone who wants to know more about how the off-course bookmaking industry operates and the regulators who are supposed to protect the consumer (punter). It provides a chance to:

1. Share your experiences of closed accounts, joke bet offers and sudden about turns in what bookmakers promise you when opening accounts.

2. Share your experiences of invasions of your privacy.

3. Share your experiences of disgusting practices to stop or slow down withdrawals of your own money, even the confiscation of your own money with no reason given.

4. Share with us anything where there appears to have been unfair treatment of the punter.

5. Receive advice on how to complain about the grubby off-course bookmaking industry (we provide advice on; who to contact, how to contact regulators and important individuals, how best to write letters and other correspondence): All of which should enable people to challenge all the injustices that are taking place.

6. Use the website materials and case studies to write articles or develop radio and TV output. We are always willing to provide people for interview and provide additional material and references.

7. Etc.

The following audio podcasts from the BBC Radio 4 consumer programme ‘You and Yours’ and the short video clip (73 seconds) set the scene, i.e. How unfair terms and conditions are causing a number of injustices and how many people can’t get a bet on (but, don’t forget that others are allowed to lose everything):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07hwmgw (Not paying out winnings) (Listen to the whole programme or the chapter entitled ‘Online Gambling’.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07kld9t (Bets refused, accounts closed, if you show ability) (Listen to the whole programme or the chapter entitled ‘Horse Betting’.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07lfkt6 (Unfair terms and conditions) (Listen to the whole programme or the chapter entitled ‘Gambling’.)

We hope this website provides not only a source of interest and information, but also acts as a magnet to all those who could and should be investigating the off-course bookmaking industry whose day-to-day practices are motivated solely by greed and characterised by spin, double standards and a never failing capacity to treat customers (punters) in a disgraceful manner.

A recent example of the industry’s respect for their customers is a petition signed by over 3000 people that was presented to the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) (click here to see the petition).  Despite the concerns shown at the meeting about the petition; the only correspondence received from the ABB or any of their members came three months later and was completely inadequate, as it blamed punters for the problem and completely absolved bookmakers of any responsibility.  They simply do not care!  And this is made easier, because they know the regulators have a history of letting them ‘get away with murder’.  The UK Gambling Commission have confirmed to us that bookmakers, who they licence, not taking £5.00 bets off ‘fun’ punters is of no concern to them.  Is this fair and open?  One has to wonder; when children are being bombarded by gambling advertising, people are regularly going to prison due to gambling related crime, and bookmakers are allowed to refuse a £5.00 bet to some, because they try hard.