In this special edition of The Front Page we reveal how we exposed an illegal bookmaker operating in British racing that claims over 1,000 customers and is getting set for a “ridiculously busy” Cheltenham Festival.
Lee Mottershead tells Tom Kerr how he spoke to the bookmaker’s ‘commercial manager’, posing as a prospective customer, and heard how affordability checks and account restrictions were causing the illegal operator’s business to boom.
They’re joined by Jon Harding and Maddy Playle to discuss the significance of the story and what it tells us about the betting black market. It comes as MPs are set to debate affordability checks in Westminster on Monday evening.
The panel also discusses the Grand National weights and shares the one thing they’d change about the Cheltenham Festival.
Exposing an illegal bookmaker – Part One – https://youtu.be/j3DlEkpFvOg
Exposing an illegal bookmaker – Part Two – https://youtu.be/8gZZww4IVfk
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00:00 – Intro
00:47 – Exposing an illegal bookmaker
18:35 – Grand National weights revealed
25:09 – What one thing would you change about Cheltenham?
29:43 – Outro
18+ Gamble Responsibly
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33 Comments
next up you can expose all the 'legal' bookies you guys are affiliated with that refuse to pay out their customers
The big firms are pushing us punters towards illegal bookies, not taking bets and restricting punters and their dirty tricks when it comes to paying out. down with the big dirty bookies i say they are conniving thieves, up the black market bookies.
Youve done exactly what no one was asking you to do, whilst ignoring the real issues.
Gambling takeout(tax) in horseracing is extremely high, don't gamble on it.
Tom kerrs accent is mad. It's all over the (betting) shop.
Where were you, when , through the last few years the books were plying vulnerable punters with free spins and allowing obvious vulnerable punters to do their dough on the FOBT's whilst restricting anyone with half a clue to pennies…YOU WERE NOWHERE THAT'S FOOKING WHERE
Lee the grass
How has the racing post ended up on the wrong end of this ? Ive never known so much dislike for the rp since this
Why haven't you clowns taken the same approach with the bookmakers who wont pay out legitimate bets over the years, oh yea the free corporate box etc,
Not a word about No Ordinary Joe run on Saturday at kempton who cares about the punters
RP has been late to the party on this. They should have started the campaign at least two years ago.
Damage has been done allowing the gambling commission to take the middle ground .
The debate today will be a waste of time. How many MPs were present for the debate?. I would hazard a guess at not much more than forty.
Em , hm if you put 2 grand in well double it
I Also do a nice line of shamy leathers …
This is whst happens when bookies start taking the piss out of the punters though
There wouldn't be any illegal bookies if the bookies played fair and stopped the account restrictions and all the checks. The gambling commission is not for purpose and always sides with the bookies wh9 they work with as chums.
Racing Post is a part of the problem because they rely on the bookies to buy large numbers of betting shop copies. They are not gpung to bite the hand that feeds them. The racing posts are after affiliate accounts where the racing post makes even more money from the bookies, from losing punters.
just for some perspective most people go to an illegal bookie because there legitimate account has been closed because they won some money 💰
elephant in the room 👈
The Racingpost, showing who they really work for : the bookmakers.
The cartel of bookies who are based in Gibraltar to avoid paying taxes in Britain have the racing journalists in their back pockets .
You lot haven't got a clue. You are supported by Legal bookies that try not to pay customers as well as shut them down whenever they want. I hope more black market bookies appear because i will be using them soon.
Can there be many like me that doesn’t know to much about Irish racing that wagering at Cheltenham Festival and ,now, the GN is actually something to avoid thus making the races concerned something you can take it or leave viewing wise?
Caan berry on YouTube has some interesting videos on bookmakers
It's a pity you didn't expose legal bookies closing accounts, restricting customers and making punters jump through hoops before being paid their winnings over the past number of years.
Illegal bookmaker? I believe u mean decent human being who will actually take a bet bigger that £20 😅
how about getting the gambling commission to start doing their job as in stoppung bookies taking the piss out of punters with their terms and conditions bullshit keeping peoples winnings,not paying out,palpable error bulshit THERE IS NO FAIRNESS OR TRANSPARENCY WHEN PLACING BETS WITH BOOKMAKERS THE GAMBLING COMMISSION AND THE USELESS GOVERMENT SHOULD BE CRUCIFYING THEM BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE GONNA GIVE THEM MORE REASON NOT TO PAY OUT VIA AFFORDABILITY CHECKS ALL BEACAUSE THE MPs AND GAMBLING COMMISSION TAKE BACKHANDERS AND VIP GUEST NIGHTS/DAYS OUT OFF THE BOOKIES AND YOU THE RACING POST ARE BOOKIE BIASED NOT PUNTER BIASED YET YOU SAY THIS BLOKE IS AN ILLEGAL BOOKIE YET LOOK AT HOW ALL THE ONES GIVEN LICENSES ACT YOU CLOWNS !!!!!!
what do they expect? only surprise is it hasnt happened earlier.
not much investigating of restrictions and account closures? i wonder why.
follow up with stories on the so called "legal" bookmakers that won't take bets, restrict stakes, refuse to give special offers that they advertise, ask for confidential information and even refuse to pay out winning bets. They just chase compulsive losers and don't want any customers that show themselves to be no mug.
Bookmakers own the Racing Post👎
Can yous please tell me how to get in touch with these class bookmakers. Sick of the other cartel outfits
Ffs Lee keep your hands down when you are speaking
and wen you win they barr you. report on that .jokers
An illegal bookmaker exposé – at a time when bookmakers are warning that affordability checks will drive people to …. illegal bookmakers. Hmm. Nothing to see here. Coincidental timing most probably.
Not surprised to see RP perpetuate bookmaker scaremongering/lobbying over illegal bookmaking & linking this to affordability checks. A huge portion of RP revenue is derived from bookmaker affiliate programs.
Concluding that affordability checks will drive people the black market is absurd. The intention of these checks is to protect vulnerable gamblers/addicts, ensure punters gamble within their means or quit gambling entirely. Suggesting that this will drive punters to gamble with illegal bookies is quite irresponsible.
It suggests that Responsible Gambling measures don't work, that addicts & at-risk players can't change or that punters can't gamble within their means or, responsibly. It suggests that you can't change behaviours & therefore instead of gambling within their means, punters will instead seek out illegal bookies where they can gamble irresponsibly.
If trainers are gambling with black market then how can we believe their not getting good horses beaten
how about exposing legal bookmakers who refuse payouts, close accounts down,,,you are fuc** hypocrites