Understanding the levels of funds protection provided by bookmakers is crucial for bettors. As betting involves real funds, the protection of these funds in betting accounts is paramount. Bookmakers, regulated by the Gambling Commission, have specific obligations to safeguard player funds in certain events. At OddsMonkey, we delve into how your funds are protected, and the varying levels of protection bookmakers must adhere to in different scenarios. This knowledge empowers you to make the best decisions when it comes to your accounts.
Levels Of Funds Protection
Bookmakers must follow different levels of protection if they are affected by insolvency:
- Not protected (No Segregation, permitted for non-remote and ancillary remote operations only) – No protection in the event of insolvency.
- Low Protection (Segregation of customer funds; this is the minimum requirement for all remote operators) – Customer funds are held in accounts separate from the business accounts, but they would form part of the assets of the businesses in the event of insolvency. These accounts might be bank accounts or investment accounts.
- Medium Protection – Funds are kept in accounts separate from the bookmaker’s business accounts, and arrangements have been made to make sure assets in the customer accounts are disturbed to customers in the event of insolvency yet are not guaranteed. The arrangements in the medium category include Quistclose accounts.
- High Protection – Customer funds are kept in a formal trust account, separate from the affairs of the company, and are verified and controlled by an independent trustee or external auditor.
Now, all of this might seem hard to follow, with there being no clear explanation of what will happen with funds that are in the betting account. Here are some simplified interpretations to make sure it is as clear as possible:
- Not Protected – The funds left in the balance are at high risk of being lost. You will have to wait for all the assets to be accounted for and for them to be distributed to the creditors. This process can take months or even years, making it highly likely that your funds will be lost should the bookmaker become insolvent.
- Medium Protection – Steps have been taken to protect customer funds, and you should be able to make a claim. Yet, there is no guarantee that all funds will be repaid if the bookmaker becomes insolvent. There is a higher chance that some or all of your funds will be recovered; this process can still take weeks or months.
- High Protection – All the funds should be fully claimable via the separate trust that is in place in the event of the bookmaker’s insolvency; this process should happen fairly quickly.
How Does Funds Protection Affect Matched Betting?
This is important for matched betting as there is a rare chance that insolvency affects one of the bookmakers. Having your own funds protected is very important, especially as some matched bettors like to hold large amounts in the account. Fortunately, there are bookmakers in the market, such as Paddy Power and Coral, that offer high protection for your funds. On the other hand, bookmakers like Betfred and Fun88 do not provide any protection.
If you are perhaps looking for some tips and tricks on matched betting, you could potentially take a look at our matched betting blog or even check out the range of matched betting tools we also have on site that can help you take a more strategic approach to betting as a whole if utilised correctly.
