Sky Bet failed vulnerable punters

SKY BET have been fined £1million after they failed to protect customers who had self-excluded themselves from gambling. The Gambling Commission has found a number of faults in Sky Bet’s exclusion service, putting susceptible customers at risk. Self-exclusion can be used by customers who feel they need to place a limit on their gambling and request that the operator turn down their business. However, the Gambling Commission found that: ÷ 736 self-excluded customers were able to open and use duplicate accounts to gamble. ÷ Around 50,000 customers who had excluded themselves received marketing material by email, text message or a notification via an app. ÷ 36,748 self-excluded customers did not have their account balance funds returned to them on account closure. ‘This was a serious failure affecting thousands of potentially vulnerable customers and the £1m penalty package should serve as a warning to all gambling businesses,’ said Richard Watson, programme director of the Gambling Commission.