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(Alliance News) - The industry regulator is considering banning VIP membership programmes, which entice losing punters with free bets and other perks, the Guardian reported on Thursday.
The measure could affect the likes of William Hill PLC, Ladbrokes Coral Group parent GVC Holdings PLC and Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment PLC.
After collecting data from customers of betting firms, the Gambling Commission is now mulling the ban of VIP schemes, the Guardian said.
The newspaper reported that in seven out of 10 regulatory penalties issued by the watchdog
in relation to problem gambling, VIP schemes have been cited as a factor.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/02/gambling-report-shows-industrys-reliance-on-loss-making-customers
Bookmakers were dealt a blow last April, after the government introduced measures to curb gambling on fixed-odds betting terminals. The stake limit on such terminals was slashed to GBP2 from GBP100.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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