A bookmaker account is essential for matched betting. You need to open an account with at least one bookmaker to have any chance of making money. The more bookmakers you open an account with, the more registration and top-up offers you will receive. From time to time, these accounts may be stripped, or at least lose their usefulness when it comes to matched betting, at the bookmaker’s discretion. So we looked at how to avoid miscalculations when matching bets.

If you want to learn more about matched betting first, check out our complete guide on OddsMonkey.

What is ‘gugu’?

“Gubbing” is a term used by matched bettors to describe betting account limits. Limitations can include:

• Can’t bet more than a few pennies on a sporting event,
• Since bonuses are limited to small amounts,
• Cancel future promotions such as free bets and early payouts,
• Completely close the account.

These actions are clearly undesirable as they significantly limit the profitability of the account. It’s hard to make money if your account is restricted. Please note that if your account is restricted or closed, your funds will be returned to you.

Bookmakers open accounts in large numbers in an attempt to “punish” and “abuse” bonuses. Unfortunately, many bookmakers view matched betting as bonus abuse. However, matched betting is a completely legal way to take advantage of bookmaker offers.

If you are interested in learning other betting terms and related lingo then you can check out our matched betting blog.

Why do bookmakers delete accounts?

Bookmakers may limit accounts for a variety of reasons, primarily to manage risk and ensure profitability. Being aware of this and understanding why bookmakers do what they do can help you take action to reduce the likelihood of being scammed. Here are some reasons why you might be scammed:

• Arbitrage Betting – Placing arbitrage bets may be limited as you are taking advantage of price differences between bookmakers and betting exchanges. If you’re interested in learning more, check out our guide to arbitrage betting.

• Consistent winning – bookmakers aim to be profitable; if you consistently win over a long period of time with high-value bets, they may limit your bet size.

• Take advantage of promotions – If you only bet on bonuses and promotions, you may be at risk of having your account suspended. In effect, bookmakers want players to place bets without bonuses in the hope that they lose so the bookmaker can make a profit.

• Irregular Betting Patterns – Unusual or irregular betting patterns may flag your account for review. For example, if you bet on foreign sporting events or obscure events.

How to avoid misjudgments when matching betting

Unfortunately, there is no reliable advice on how to avoid miscalculations when betting on matched bets. However, while there is no absolute way to prevent it, there are steps you can take to significantly reduce your chances. Or at least prevent it from happening for a long time.

fuzzy market

First, don’t bet on unknown sports events or markets. It’s absolutely okay to place big bets on televised Premier League football matches. However, if you place a bet of a similar size on the “corner market” for a Bulgarian third tier football match, bookmakers may take notice and start imposing restrictions on you.

Generally speaking, if you haven’t heard of the team that’s playing, it’s best to avoid attending the game entirely. Instead, choose slightly less profitable matched betting opportunities in more recognized markets.

In the OddsMonkey Forum, we list the major sporting events of the week. The idea is that it should be possible to place a bet without arousing suspicion. Other key indicators include whether the event is broadcast on television or the amount of money traded on betting exchanges. You should be able to determine whether the event is dramatic enough to not cause concern.

exact quantity

Another way to avoid squatting is to deposit more than the minimum amount. For example, if the offer requires a deposit and a bet of £10, consider depositing £15 or £20. Always depositing exactly the required amount may make it look like you’re just there to get the sign-up bonus and move on. On the contrary, if you have a little extra money in your betting account, it is a sign that you might stay with them.

Similarly, there are times when betting more than the minimum amount required for an offer. For example, if you need to stake £10 to get a free £10 bet, consider betting £15. Closing it may cost you a few pennies more, but a “healthy” account is likely to be more valuable in terms of long-term profitability.

Arbitrage Betting

The third thing to note is arbitrage betting. Arbitrage is when you can back an event at a bookmaker at a higher price than on an exchange. Regardless of the outcome, this will lead to profits. Arbitrage usually occurs when bookmakers misprice money or use it to balance their books. The small profits you can make before being restricted are miniscule compared to the long-term profits of an account that follows the bookmaker’s guidelines. Since this can be part of a value betting strategy, it is important to use this strategy with care and by following the tips and tricks provided on our website.

Finally, consistent use of bonuses, offers, and promotions can mark your account. So it might be worth waiting for a quote from time to time. Especially if they are not valuable or are for a sport you have never played before. Again, it pays to skip a few pounds now and then to avoid binge eating and improve long-term profits.

Betting at extremely high odds can lead to scrutiny from bookmakers, but unfortunately there is no way to prevent this.

What to do if you get scammed

If your account is compromised, this is not the end of your matched betting. Although you will no longer be able to profit from free bets, you can still make money. As long as your account is not subject to wagering limits, you can do things like payout offers for extra places on horse racing. These are standard terms and not bonuses. They can be particularly profitable, and there are usually several opportunities each day to profit from this method of matched betting.

How to profit from your bad debts

If your account is damaged, you can still make money with it in a number of ways, including through:

• Extra Places – Extra Places offers are mainly available for horse racing and are generally available to all accounts, meaning if you get scammed you can still use them. If you’re interested in how to use these in matched betting, check out our guide to extra place offers.

• Casino Offers – Most bookmakers have offers on the casino side of their website, which means you can take advantage of these casino offers if you’ve just been excluded from sports betting offers. These offers are also available for matched betting, which is great value for bettors.

• Price Boosts – Price boosts are offers that can still be completed on a canceled account because these offers increase the odds on a specific selection. You can use these increased odds to create the difference between draw odds and trail odds. If you’re interested in using this technique, check out our Matched Betting Calculator to help you with the complex math.

FAQ

Since restrictions can significantly affect matched betting, there are often a number of frequently asked questions about gubbing, which we’ll cover here.

Can the account be decompressed?

The account can be unfrozen; however, this is highly unlikely and not worth pursuing as you can simply create an account with another bookmaker.

How to avoid being ripped off?

In addition to the other tips we give throughout this blog, “cup betting” is a technique commonly used throughout the industry. Big bets are bets placed without a strategy, meaning bookmakers will suspect you are a regular bettor rather than a matched bettor.