Pro bettors imitating Gambling Addicts to trick sportsbooks
Author:
Zach Lutz
Reviewed by:
Published:
Oct 29, 2024
,
05:24 p.m.
ET
Since the repeal of PASPA (Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act) in 2018, the rise of online sports betting has seemingly uncovered a new consequence at every turn, including a more concerning trend that has emerged behind the scenes: some professional bettors are simulating gambling addiction behaviors to avoid being limited or banned by sportsbooks.
The strategies employed by professionals to circumvent betting limits have shed light on both the behaviors of gambling addicts and the methods sportsbooks use to exploit or enable problematic gambling habits. In this article, we examine those behaviors, how some sportsbooks may be rewarding and encouraging problem gambling and why these pro bettors mimic certain behaviors.
What are the betting behaviors of gambling addicts?
To understand why professionals might emulate certain behaviors, it helps to first look at typical behaviors associated with gambling addiction. Gambling addicts often exhibit patterns such as betting regularly on local teams that they root for, betting low-expected-value parlays, wagering during the middle of the night, and, in many cases losing significant amounts of money early on. These habits reflect the intense emotional and psychological attachment that problem gamblers can develop, often sacrificing rational thinking for the thrill or hope of a quick reward.
Betting during late hours, for instance, is a common sign of gambling becoming compulsive. By making bets at all hours, withdrawing and redepositing funds in a single session and persistently chasing losses, bettors can quickly find themselves in a financial and emotional downward spiral. This unfortunate cycle is compounded by the allure of parlays, which while extremely difficult to win long term due to the high house edge, offer tantalizingly high payouts that appeal to risk-seekers and those wanting to get rich quickly.
For some professional bettors, addictive behaviors have become a tool – a way to “prime” accounts so they appear to be recreational, unskilled bettors. The goal is to deceive sportsbooks into raising betting limits or potentially even rewarding them with promotions, allowing pros to place larger bets on high-confidence picks before the operator catches on. Sportsbooks usually have an internal system of rating and profiling each bettor on their platform to identify them as statistically likely losers, sometimes referred to as “square” bettors, and those who have a chance to profit off of them, known as “sharp” players.
How do some sportsbooks reward or encourage problem gamblers?
To maximize profits, sportsbooks have been known to cater to high-frequency, high-stakes bettors, including those who exhibit risky, potentially at-risk behaviors. Rather than limit these bettors, sportsbooks may go so far as to reward them. Common incentives include VIP status, free-play bonuses, personalized promotional offers and larger betting limits, which all encourage more frequent betting.
This practice benefits sportsbooks in two ways. First, these incentives help sportsbooks identify and retain their most profitable clients. The reasoning is simple: gamblers who frequently place risky bets or engage in large-odds parlay bets are more likely to lose over time, generating more revenue for the sportsbook. A study of Illinois’ 2023 sports betting data reveals just how profitable parlays can be. With 194,657,909 parlays placed that year alone, sportsbooks retained an 18.2% “hold” on parlays, compared to only 4.9% on straight bets.
Second, by focusing their marketing on popular figures or themes and placing enticing parlays on the app’s homepage, sportsbooks are able to encourage unwise betting behaviors among recreational and problem gamblers alike. Major sportsbooks often employ these tactics, often embedding the allure of a big parlay payouts into their promotional efforts.
Why pro bettors mimic gambling addicts
For professionals, the challenge isn’t just picking winning bets; it’s finding ways to place these bets without sportsbooks noticing. Most regulated sportsbooks limit or restrict “sharp” bettors – those who consistently win or demonstrate sophisticated betting strategies. This has led some pros to engage in “priming” tactics, which involve acting like casual or even at-risk bettors to avoid detection.
For instance, a pro bettor might log into their account at odd hours, frequently withdraw and then redeposit funds, or even place random, impulsive bets on local teams. These behaviors are designed to mimic the erratic, high-risk approach of a gambling addict, tricking the sportsbook into thinking they’re a bettor that’s likely to lose money over time. Sportsbooks, seeing these patterns, may then raise the account’s betting limits and offer more lucrative promotions, thinking they’ve attracted a profitable client.
As Bloomberg recently highlighted, this tactic can be highly effective. One professional bettor used a bot to log into his accounts between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. daily, creating the appearance of a compulsive bettor who couldn’t resist checking and placing bets at all hours. Others made bets on local teams or repeatedly reversed withdrawals, signaling a lack of impulse control. In the eyes of sportsbooks, these behaviors can be viewed as red flags for addiction, but they also make the account appear to be a likely long-term loser.
This tactic showcases an uncomfortable dynamic in the sports betting industry: the same signals that indicate a potential problem gambler are also behaviors that experienced professionals can mimic to evade restrictions.
Gambling Addiction treatment options
While sports betting can be fun, it’s crucial to recognize when it becomes harmful. Parlays and similar types of bets can quickly lead to a cycle of losses, financial strain and emotional distress, impacting everything from mental health to relationships. Recognizing the early signs of gambling addiction is essential, and it’s important to seek help before the problem spirals further out of control.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, Gamblers Anonymous is a well-known group support network offering meetings with others with similar experiences to help break free from gambling’s grip. Additionally, Birches Health provides numerous resources and at-home treatment options for those seeking help.
Ways to Connect with Birches Health:
You can also reach out to the Birches team at 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com to begin the path toward recovery.
