UK Ministers are currently considering the implementation of stricter measures on social media “tipsters” that offer some controversial betting advice and generate profit from gamblers losing money.
The proposals for better regulation of the questionable practice include various measures, such as suspending tipsters from posting screenshots of winning bets to try to lure people into gambling by making it look like an activity that could help them win money quickly and easily, and even more – that gamblers could always be on the winning side.
According to reports, the proposed technology could work in the same manner used by Netflix to block users from saving images while watching a movie on the subscription streaming service’s application or website. Supporters of the proposed crackdown also say that warnings could be added to social media posts on Twitter to clarify that customers could lose a lot of money if they follow the aforementioned tips.
As reported above, UK Ministers are now considering a possible crackdown on the practice after the proposal was raised by Julie Marson, a Member of Parliament from the Conservative Party, who claimed that tipsters can make up to 30% of the money that is being lost by gamblers for taking their advice. Ms Marson noted that tipsters bizarrely keep making money when a certain bet fails.
Tipsters’ Business Model Predicates on Gamblers Who Lose Money on Online Gambling Websites
According to Julie Marson MP, many tipsters do not clearly notify users on the Internet that they are affiliated to a certain gambling operator that gives them a chunk of the losing bet of gamblers they have referred. That is why she has proposed some measures that are specially designed to severely limit such controversial practices used by local tipsters to prevent them from demonstrating previous wins. The restrictions are currently being considered by Chris Philp, UK’s Digital Economy Minister.
Ms Marson has shared their concerns with iNews, saying that the tipsters should not be even allowed to exist, so she wanted them out of business. The Conservative Member of Parliament explained that the business model used by such affiliates of gambling firms is based on making money on the backs of people who lose money, while all of this is being covered under the mask of the provision of special knowledge or good advice.
She further noted that some tipsters are actually pretty convincing and seem very plausible, while many do not even mention they are actually linked to online gambling operators.
This is exactly why Julie Marson MP believes that the UK Government must at least investigate this “unregulated online activity” and consider the implementation of stricter measures to keep it under control because such behaviour was unacceptable. In her opinion, the Government would unveil measures to stop or at least regulate the tipsters as part of the forthcoming Online Safety Bill, although it is still reviewing the country’s Gambling Act. Ms Marson urged the Government to take action on the matter as soon as possible and make sure these people are put out of business to protect British gamblers.
Currently, it is the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling Code for Socially Responsible Advertising that regulates so-called tipsters and their activity.
- Author
Daniel Williams
