Why are the bookies writing down my details?

Posted by PHayesxx@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 18 comments

I sometimes pop into the bookies around once a month, the same Betfred and I’ve been going since the end of Covid. I’ll usually chuck some loose change into either slots or their sports betting terminals and try my luck. It’s usually if I’m waiting for a bus, the dog’s hair to be cut or waiting for a friend.

Around 50% of the time I get asked for ID to prove I’m over 18 (I’m over 25 and I look haggard). I understand they have to do this legally but they always scribble my name and a few other details down on a notepad and let me continue.

Why do they write down details? And what do they do with those details?

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eventworker@reddit

I suspect if you are a 25-30 year old actually going into a bookies, however haggard looking you are you are still going to look like one of their younger customers, so if they ask anyone for ID it's going to be you!

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PHayesxx@reddit (OP)

That’s true. Everyone in there is about 60+ tbf.

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Neat_Personality7424@reddit

I work in food retail, when we ask for id we have to write down reason, time, id type, approved/declined, brief description. So would write , Alcohol, 19:40, passport, approved, black top/jeans for example. This is so they can find and check the transaction on cctv if they need to. We get mystery shoppers sent in by the police so this is also proof that we check under 25's if necessary. Im guessing in your case it could be something to do with potential money laundering, if your spending alot someone eventually will want to know how.

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FeedFrequent1334@reddit

It sounds like it's a typical "ID check at 19.40" note.

But you're right, OP indicates loose change once a month in the machines. If they're funneling a few hundred quid into a roulette machine every month and either just printing out the receipt without playing, or playing and accepting a 20% loss on £300 they will absolutely be getting monitored, closely.

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Princes_Slayer@reddit

In training they teach about spotting the signs of money laundering, but in reality the bookies don’t care unless you are not a stranger. The staff are all aware who the dealers are in their shop, and if they live local or also spend then they absolutely ignore the money laundering.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

Nobody cares about £300.

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FeedFrequent1334@reddit

I worked for several of the main high street chains nearly 20 years ago.

If they're asking for ID before taking the bet, it's likely just compliance, to show they're actively IDing people who might be "underage". Similar to the "think 25" policy in supermarkets. If something comes back to bite them they have a written log from when you were served that they did actively ask you for ID and keep a record of that instance.

Alternatively, if you're more of a regular than you're admitting and are visiting the same or multiple branches, they're monitoring your bets but don't 100% recognise your face everytime they serve you.

If it's the latter, your bets are flagged and they have a file on you.

20 years ago I would have said the former was much more likely, but I've been out the game for a while and in this day and age of data collection I wouldnt be surprised if all the big chains had massively ramped up how they monitored and profiled regular customers.

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PHayesxx@reddit (OP)

It’s probably less frequent than once a month to be honest, sometimes it can be 3 times over 2 weeks and then not for 2 months or so.

There’s a few ladies that work in there and a young lad that’s always encouraging me to put more money and different bets on (which I’m sure is illegal).

I do always joke and say “I’ve been in here before” and one of the ladies who’s usually behind the glass does recognise me. They did also take my friends details last time he was with me.

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FeedFrequent1334@reddit

Sounds like they're literally just keeping a record of the times and dates they've asked people for ID to cover their own arse incase you're a "mystery shopper" or similar.

Youre fine, not worth overthinking or worrying about. These chains are ruled by corporate policy, the folk on the till probably don't care less but have area and regional managers insisting they ID anyone who could potentially be 24 and make them keep a written log of every occasion, that they will check on their sporadic visits.

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PHayesxx@reddit (OP)

!answer thank you!

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FeedFrequent1334@reddit

You're welcome. Hey if you're going to gamble, do it responsibly. Bookies and casinos are absolute hives of scum and villainy, and I'm not talking about the clientele.

They're predatory, exploitative organisations that are designed almost exclusively to make money by exploiting the vulnerable while allowing the super wealthy to move incredibly large sums of money around tax-free.

You mentioned Betfred. You're not betting against Fred Dunn himself but thats the business model. The bookies aren't gambling, they're just profiting off the over-round every single time you and anyone else place a bet.

Back in the day bookies would take risks and be invested in the outcome of events. These days they're just gutter level accountants.

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PHayesxx@reddit (OP)

Yeah - I agree.

I’ve had friends lose they’re monthly wages in a day to online casinos - I self excluded from them about 3 years ago and only use my loose change in person now as when I’ve run out I can’t be arsed going to the cash machine, if I get anything over a tenner I cash out and pay it in at the bank two doors down.

I’ve ‘profited’ anyway, thanks to a ridiculous accumulator which came in for about £1400 off a £3.80 bet. It’ll take me decades to spend £1400 in loose change and seldom visits.

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FeedFrequent1334@reddit

I’ve ‘profited’ anyway, thanks to a ridiculous accumulator which came in for about £1400 off a £3.80 bet. It’ll take me decades to spend £1400 in loose change and seldom visits.

Depends how seldom your visits are. £3.80 a day burns through £1400 in less than a year.

You say you've self excluded before. I've literally helped dozens of people fill out self-exclusion forms, and 90% of them were right back at the door begging to allowed back in to gamble within a week. Usually on their Friday payday.

It's not for me to tell you what to do, but you can't win a battle between you and the bookies. The bookies aren't aren't fighting, you're irrelevant in their eyes regardless of whether you win or lose.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

If someone asks for your details and then writes them down, you're entirely within your rights to ask them why they've done it.

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

OP marked this as the best answer, given by /u/FeedFrequent1334.

Sounds like they're literally just keeping a record of the times and dates they've asked people for ID to cover their own arse incase you're a "mystery shopper" or similar.

Youre fine, not worth overthinking or worrying about. These chains are ruled by corporate policy, the folk on the till probably don't care less but have area and regional managers insisting they ID anyone who could potentially be 24 and make them keep a written log of every occasion, that they will check on their sporadic visits.

^(What is this?)

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