[deuxfaces]

As of 31st July 2014 bet365 will apply an Administration Fee to all accounts that have been ‘inactive’ for a consecutive period of at least 365 days in accordance with the following procedure. An account is deemed to be ‘inactive’ during any period in which none of the following actions take place in relation to it: (i) a successful deposit; (ii) a sports or financials bet is placed; or (iii) participation in any casino, poker, games, vegas or bingo product.

(a) If your account remains ‘inactive’ for a continuous period of 365 days then your account shall be deemed to be ‘dormant’ and, if the balance on your account is zero, your account will be closed and no fee shall apply.

(b) If, on being deemed to be dormant, your account has a positive balance, bet365 shall take reasonable steps to notify you using the details you provided during your registration process (or as updated by you).

(c) If your account remains dormant, after a minimum period of 28 days following bet365’s first attempt to notify you that your account has become dormant, bet365 shall deduct a monthly Administration Fee from your account balance of £2 (or currency equivalent), or 5% of your account balance at the time that it is deemed to be dormant (whichever is greater).

(d) The Administration Fee calculated in accordance with (c) above shall be deducted from your account balance on the expiry of the 28 day notification period mentioned above and every 28 days thereafter at the same rate until the earlier of: (i) your account balance reaching zero when no further Administration Fee shall be deducted and your account will be closed; or (ii) you ‘reactivating’ your account when no further Administration Fee shall be deducted.

You can ‘reactivate’ your account by: (i) making a successful deposit; (ii) placing a sports or financials bet; or (iii) playing/taking part in any casino, poker, games, vegas or bingo product.

[Hareeba!]

Immoral.
Legal theft!

[Domestic]

Super petty immoral theft.

[Hareeba!]

This really ought to be illegal.

I think it would be in Victoria as it appears contrary to the Unclaimed Moneys Act.

[Dr.Gonzo]

A+?

Downgrade their ass, there is no defense that can be made in favor of these terms.

[superhans]

Shocking. Like £2 a year is going to make a massive difference to their profits

[Hareeba!]

Shocking. Like £2 a year is going to make a massive difference to their profits

£2 a year?

They will clean out dormant accounts in a little over 18 months at 5% every 28 days!

Deceased, incapacitated, incarcerated, impoverished will be the prime sufferers swelling the coffers of the low life scum at B365.

Make sure that someone in your family is aware of your bookie accounts and can access your funds if you can't. Don't let them steal your money!

[bilbaobaggins]

Pretty sure this term has no grounds - it doesn't exactly cost them anything to keep your account open regardless of whether it's in use or not. Seems to common practice now though

[superhans]

£2 a year?

They will clean out dormant accounts in a little over 18 months at 5% every 28 days!

Deceased, incapacitated, incarcerated, impoverished will be the prime sufferers swelling the coffers of the low life scum at B365.

Make sure that someone in your family is aware of your bookie accounts and can access your funds if you can't. Don't let them steal your money!

Damn. Missed that part. Thats even more shocking. Makes me feel less bad about having 4 accounts with them though!

[shaunovery]

Can't see what them problem is

If you're with a book and haven't made a bet within 365 days that books lines gotta be pretty crap for you not to play for at least a yr

Some books I don't play with for a few weeks but that's about it

[leetreaper]

Brokedikks attack

[shari91]

They're probably getting pissed that so many people leave $30 in their accounts just to access live streaming but make all their bets elsewhere.

I really don't see what the big deal is though. If someone hasn't made even a $5 bet in an entire year when every sport has completely cycled through its season or even just played $2 in the casino, then chances are their account isn't sitting with too much $ in it anyway, if any at all. Make a bet once a year and you're fine.

[leetreaper]

They're probably getting pissed that so many people leave $30 in their accounts just to access live streaming but make all their bets elsewhere.

I really don't see what the big deal is though. If someone hasn't made even a $5 bet in an entire year when every sport has completely cycled through its season or even just played $2 in the casino, then chances are their account isn't sitting with too much $ in it anyway, if any at all. Make a bet once a year and you're fine.

Exactly.

[shaunovery]

They're probably getting pissed that so many people leave $30 in their accounts just to access live streaming but make all their bets elsewhere.

I really don't see what the big deal is though. If someone hasn't made even a $5 bet in an entire year when every sport has completely cycled through its season or even just played $2 in the casino, then chances are their account isn't sitting with too much $ in it anyway, if any at all. Make a bet once a year and you're fine.

That's the point I was making

[theviking]

What a big problem, its just to withdraw your money if u dont use the account. Or play for 0,01 dollar in casino every year
More bookmakers has the same rule. sportsinteraction is an example they have 18 monhts
Deserve no downgrade for this. Livestreaming u get for free other sites

[Digo]

Someone call the police! o0

[leetreaper]

Bet 365 gives you unlimited FREE withdrawals to idebit, ukash and many and brokedikks complain, you can't make this shit up...

[dealer wins]

My account is limited to an annual fee of 5 pence LOL

[superhans]

Bet 365 gives you unlimited FREE withdrawals to idebit, ukash and many and brokedikks complain, you can't make this shit up...

So does every other UK bookie. Free accounts, and withdrawals is the standard here. Once the largest changes that, its a little worrying.

Got just over £5k in this account, so not a 'brokedikk'

If I have a car crash tomorrow, and spend 10 years in a coma. Wake up and my £5k is gone cause of this bull*shit rule, and thats fair? Even a bank wouldnt shaft me like that.

You guys are used to being bent over backwards by bookies. We're not

[Hareeba!]

So does every other UK bookie. Free accounts, and withdrawals is the standard here. Once the largest changes that, its a little worrying.

Got just over £5k in this account, so not a 'brokedikk'

If I have a car crash tomorrow, and spend 10 years in a coma. Wake up and my £5k is gone cause of this bull*shit rule, and thats fair? Even a bank wouldnt shaft me like that.

You guys are used to being bent over backwards by bookies. We're not

Spot on!

There would be thousands of inactive accounts. Sure, most will have very small balances which their owners don't really care about any more but based on history of what happens at banks and other financial institutions there will also be quite a number of significant balances.

People do die, become demented etc. without their families knowing all their assets.

B365 is tapping into a goldmine here!

I just can't believe how many posters think this is acceptable.

[allin1]

B365 is tapping into a goldmine here!

I just can't believe how many posters think this is acceptable.

I wouldn't call it a goldmine but you don't need to be a genius to realize that this rule IS NOT INTENDED TO FORCE PUNTERS TO BET 5 EUROS EACH YEAR. I really doubt that is their intention. Not even a Mickey Mouse Outfit would look for that.

There is something else at stake and as others have already suggested it is most likely about dormant accounts with bigger balances where the clients have been deceased. Remember, gambling in UK is quite popular and a lot of old people do it on a regular basis.

No matter how poor you are, 5 euros each year should not be a problem, so this is not the issue here.

The issue is probably about bet365 stealing money from deceased or ill people, because their relatives probably don't know about their gambling accounts.

If this is true, shame on you bet365. Punters would not mind betting 5 euros each year, but if bet365 will use this rule to take money from deceased people, ill people (physically or mentally) etc., then it is outrageous stuff.

As I understand it, the 5% monthly fee will be applied to any balance above 40 punds/euros/dollars etc. That monthly 5% will eventually take 46% of the initial balance in one year, 91% of the initial balance in 4 years.

Banks give you money to keep their money in their pockets, but bet365 will take your money if you keep them in their pockets? Ridiculous, outrageous and actually sickening.

Any human rights watch or any decent person would condemn big companies taking money from dead/ill people.

[slayer14]

this is ridiclous i know bet 365 are from stoke and in that part of the world they are tight with there money, but you cant steal from the innocent

[lecubs28]

They're probably getting pissed that so many people leave $30 in their accounts just to access live streaming but make all their bets elsewhere.

do they stream anything worth watching? all i remember popping up was third world soccer or basketball. i can't imagine too many people chomping at the bit to get access to those streams.

[jjgold]

good idea

dont want clowns watching video and not betting

they have great streams..better than American Direct TV..blows it away

[Spacefrog]

They're probably getting pissed that so many people leave $30 in their accounts just to access live streaming but make all their bets elsewhere.

I really don't see what the big deal is though. If someone hasn't made even a $5 bet in an entire year when every sport has completely cycled through its season or even just played $2 in the casino, then chances are their account isn't sitting with too much $ in it anyway, if any at all. Make a bet once a year and you're fine.

I´m one of those that keep less than $30 and keep accessing their live streams. But that is just because they don´t let me make more than a few cents bets. If they were not cowards i would have there much more money.

[shari91]

Spot on!

There would be thousands of inactive accounts. Sure, most will have very small balances which their owners don't really care about any more but based on history of what happens at banks and other financial institutions there will also be quite a number of significant balances.

People do die, become demented etc. without their families knowing all their assets.

B365 is tapping into a goldmine here!

I just can't believe how many posters think this is acceptable.

I don't think this is a valid argument. If someone dies, etc and their family doesn't know about all their assets, that money is bet365's regardless. Someone's family member doesn't just wake up one morning 4 years after their loved one has died and wonder if they happened to have an account at bet365. And unless bet365 is advised that the person has died, they also have no way of knowing so that money will just sit forever in the account, which is ultimately bet365's account. It says in their terms "If, on being deemed to be dormant, your account has a positive balance,take reasonable steps to notify you using the details you provided during your registration process (or as updated by you)." So if your loved one doesn't even have access to your email account a year after your death when 365 is alerting you that your account is now deemed dormant, I find it hard to believe they're going to suddenly realise a few years later that you might have an online gambling account they knew nothing about.

And beyond it all, say someone's wife did realise years after her husband's death that he had been hiding his gambling activity from her. bet365 isn't stupid. They're not going to be dragged through court and the media for stealing from a dead guy when all it'd take was presentation of the death certificate to prove that he couldn't have reasonably kept his account active. I think people are acting like the sky is falling over nothing.

[Kaabee]

how about they do what any legitimate business would do and turn it over to the gov as unclaimed property.

[OTL]

good idea

dont want clowns watching video and not betting

they have great streams..better than American Direct TV..blows it away

Yeah, but suppose you're a Bet365 customer who is unable to log in for a year due to a serious injury, jail, or some other circumstance. They're going to be siphoning off the account balances of their clients that need the money the most. A better option for them would be to only allow people to view the streams of games they have action on.

[Dr.Gonzo]

They're probably getting pissed that so many people leave $30 in their accounts just to access live streaming but make all their bets elsewhere.

I really don't see what the big deal is though. If someone hasn't made even a $5 bet in an entire year when every sport has completely cycled through its season or even just played $2 in the casino, then chances are their account isn't sitting with too much $ in it anyway, if any at all. Make a bet once a year and you're fine.

Bullshit.

If live streaming is the issue, they can restrict the actual streaming to those with turnover.

This is a money grab.

[Hareeba!]

I don't think this is a valid argument. If someone dies, etc and their family doesn't know about all their assets, that money is bet365's regardless. Someone's family member doesn't just wake up one morning 4 years after their loved one has died and wonder if they happened to have an account at bet365. And unless bet365 is advised that the person has died, they also have no way of knowing so that money will just sit forever in the account, which is ultimately bet365's account. It says in their terms "If, on being deemed to be dormant, your account has a positive balance,take reasonable steps to notify you using the details you provided during your registration process (or as updated by you)." So if your loved one doesn't even have access to your email account a year after your death when 365 is alerting you that your account is now deemed dormant, I find it hard to believe they're going to suddenly realise a few years later that you might have an online gambling account they knew nothing about.

And beyond it all, say someone's wife did realise years after her husband's death that he had been hiding his gambling activity from her. bet365 isn't stupid. They're not going to be dragged through court and the media for stealing from a dead guy when all it'd take was presentation of the death certificate to prove that he couldn't have reasonably kept his account active. I think people are acting like the sky is falling over nothing.

I simply can't accept that B365 is entitled to take a deceased or incapacitated player's money for themselves.

When I was working in business, we had to comply with Victoria's Unclaimed Monies Act. I would have expected that all jurisdictions in Australia and the UK at least would have had similar provisions.

After a certain period of dormancy, a business if unable to contact the account holder, is required to forward the funds to the government, not swallow them for itself.

The government maintains a register which can be searched and claimants get their funds. You would surely be aware of the fact that there are many millions of unclaimed superannuation funds in Australia which we see regular advertisments for people to check if they may be owed?

If the family never becomes aware of the funds, the community benefits, not a thieving "bookmaker".
That is the way it should work.

[relaaxx]

I simply can't accept that B365 is entitled to take a deceased or incapacitated player's money for themselves.

When I was working in business, we had to comply with Victoria's Unclaimed Monies Act. I would have expected that all jurisdictions in Australia and the UK at least would have had similar provisions.

After a certain period of dormancy, a business if unable to contact the account holder, is required to forward the funds to the government, not swallow them for itself.

The government maintains a register which can be searched and claimants get their funds. You would surely be aware of the fact that there are many millions of unclaimed superannuation funds in Australia which we see regular advertisments for people to check if they may be owed?

If the family never becomes aware of the funds, the community benefits, not a thieving "bookmaker".
That is the way it should work.

this is the only thing that makes sense on what to do with unclaimed funds. why should any book get to confiscate anyone's monies. i get why they want 1yr delinquent accounts off the books but they should not get to confiscation the funds. and did i read 5% a month. are you kidding me. maybe tops 1% a month for a another year while you try monthly to contact the person. and for a simple letter or email you get 1% that sounds fair. 5% a month sounds more like a loan shark's terms. wish i could play there. and still would with this new rule. but it still sounds like an F rated book's new rules.

[allin1]

Generally you won't see this in the banking industry. The banks don't do it, but that's basically because usually the government gets the money from dormant accounts. It can happen after 1 year or after 15 depending on the country/state but in the US and UK and probably other countries as well, the owner has the right to reclaim his/her money at any given time.

Anyne defending bet365 on this move should really take a long, hard look at themselves.

[shari91]

I simply can't accept that B365 is entitled to take a deceased or incapacitated player's money for themselves.

When I was working in business, we had to comply with Victoria's Unclaimed Monies Act. I would have expected that all jurisdictions in Australia and the UK at least would have had similar provisions.

After a certain period of dormancy, a business if unable to contact the account holder, is required to forward the funds to the government, not swallow them for itself.

The government maintains a register which can be searched and claimants get their funds. You would surely be aware of the fact that there are many millions of unclaimed superannuation funds in Australia which we see regular advertisments for people to check if they may be owed?

If the family never becomes aware of the funds, the community benefits, not a thieving "bookmaker".
That is the way it should work.

I never said they were entitled to take the money of a dead or incapacitated person but unless there's some national "Dead and Incapacitated Persons Register" that I'm unaware of, how is 365 supposed to know that that's in fact what happened to someone unless they're advised? And until they are, if ever, that money is sitting in bet365's account earning interest. If I die tomorrow and I was stupid enough not to leave the details of all my accounts in a safe place, how is my family going to know I have money at a sportsbook? How will some of them even know I ever gambled at all?

The Department of Business in the NT handles unclaimed money for sportsbooks registered in the state and when you go to their website all it says is this:

Certain categories of unclaimed monies either revert back to Northern Territory Treasury, or Treasury must give prior approval for their release.


These are:

• unclaimed funds from phone or internet betting accounts
• Tattersall's wins where the prize-winning tickets have been issued but are unclaimed for over 12 months
• unclaimed keno wins where the ticket was issued over 12 months previously.

Unclaimed funds from phone or internet betting accounts

Phone betting or internet betting accounts require the person to provide ID within 90 days of opening the accounts. Funds or winnings cannot be withdrawn from the accounts until suitable ID is provided.



That's it. And after scrolling through 80 pages of unclaimed money on their website, there's not one sportsbook to be found... not from deceased estates, people who couldn't pass the id check, someone who only bets every couple of years when they go to the Melbourne Cup, nothing. So from that I can only assume sportsbooks fall under the category of "Treasury must give prior approval for their release" which makes sense because an Aussie sportsbook will merely suspend your account after 90 days but you can reactivate it if you eventually provide the proper ID and bet365 says they'll reactivate your account after the year if you make a bet or deposit. They're not passing cash back and forth and I understand that because I'm not sure how many people would feel comfortable having their name on a public, searchable record being linked to a sportsbook because it took them 120 days to validate their ID rather than 90 or they only bet during the Olympics or whatever.

So if you don't like the idea of the monthly charge at 365, fair enough... people have the right to choose not to bet there. It's not like we're struggling for options here but it sounds like you have a larger problem with government. Gamblers obviously didn't just start dying today so it appears the same advice that has been given on here time and time again holds true: Put the details of your accounts in a safe place in the event something happens because if you're to die tomorrow some CR bookie or even one in Australia isn't going to know about it unless your family is proactive at getting your $.

[Hareeba!]

I never said they were entitled to take the money of a dead or incapacitated person but unless there's some national "Dead and Incapacitated Persons Register" that I'm unaware of, how is 365 supposed to know that that's in fact what happened to someone unless they're advised? And until they are, if ever, that money is sitting in bet365's account earning interest. If I die tomorrow and I was stupid enough not to leave the details of all my accounts in a safe place, how is my family going to know I have money at a sportsbook? How will some of them even know I ever gambled at all?

The Department of Business in the NT handles unclaimed money for sportsbooks registered in the state and when you go to their website all it says is this:

Certain categories of unclaimed monies either revert back to Northern Territory Treasury, or Treasury must give prior approval for their release.


These are:

• unclaimed funds from phone or internet betting accounts
• Tattersall's wins where the prize-winning tickets have been issued but are unclaimed for over 12 months
• unclaimed keno wins where the ticket was issued over 12 months previously.

Unclaimed funds from phone or internet betting accounts

Phone betting or internet betting accounts require the person to provide ID within 90 days of opening the accounts. Funds or winnings cannot be withdrawn from the accounts until suitable ID is provided.



That's it. And after scrolling through 80 pages of unclaimed money on their website, there's not one sportsbook to be found... not from deceased estates, people who couldn't pass the id check, someone who only bets every couple of years when they go to the Melbourne Cup, nothing. So from that I can only assume sportsbooks fall under the category of "Treasury must give prior approval for their release" which makes sense because an Aussie sportsbook will merely suspend your account after 90 days but you can reactivate it if you eventually provide the proper ID and bet365 says they'll reactivate your account after the year if you make a bet or deposit. They're not passing cash back and forth and I understand that because I'm not sure how many people would feel comfortable having their name on a public, searchable record being linked to a sportsbook because it took them 120 days to validate their ID rather than 90 or they only bet during the Olympics or whatever.

So if you don't like the idea of the monthly charge at 365, fair enough... people have the right to choose not to bet there. It's not like we're struggling for options here but it sounds like you have a larger problem with government. Gamblers obviously didn't just start dying today so it appears the same advice that has been given on here time and time again holds true: Put the details of your accounts in a safe place in the event something happens because if you're to die tomorrow some CR bookie or even one in Australia isn't going to know about it unless your family is proactive at getting your $.

If only those bastards would allow me to bet with them!
Of course my family has access to all my financial information and how to access the funds should it be necessary.
But I know there are lots of people who don't want their families to know about their betting.
Bet365's policy allows them to steal their balances.
I'm a bit confused about what the NT law is there. Hopefully it makes B365's policy illegal and doesn't allow them to steal the money but instead pay it over to the government where it will be on a public register which can be searched and claimed by dependents which I understand is what the Victorian law was when I was involved in business.
If only we had politicians in this country which cared for punters! The solution to this atrocity is so simple.

[shari91]

Generally you won't see this in the banking industry. The banks don't do it, but that's basically because usually the government gets the money from dormant accounts. It can happen after 1 year or after 15 depending on the country/state but in the US and UK and probably other countries as well, the owner has the right to reclaim his/her money at any given time.

Anyne defending bet365 on this move should really take a long, hard look at themselves.

This isn't the banking industry. If I die tomorrow, the $2200 store credit I have with Myer that expires in 9 months will be gone unless someone in my family finds it. No unclaimed money register, no monthly admin fee, nothing. Even if I don't die and simply forget to use it = GONE. Right back into their pockets. And this is a massive Australian corporation, not a bloody sportsbook.

SIA has a similar rule:

• Your account will be considered dormant if it has not had any activity for 18 months. Account activity is defined as the following: making of a deposit or withdrawal; placement of a Sportsbook bet, Racebook bet, Casino bet, Games bet or play of a poker cash game or tournament.
• If your account is dormant we will begin deducting a monthly fee of US$5 per month until the balance on the account is zero or your account becomes active again. Account activity is defined as the following: making of a deposit or withdrawal; placement of a Sportsbook bet, Racebook bet, Casino bet, Games bet or play of a poker cash game or tournament. The fee is not refundable but the remaining balance can be withdrawn at any time through any available withdrawal method once your account is registered. Withdrawals will be subject to the standard minimum withdrawal amount and fees for the withdrawal method you choose. A full record of all dormant account fees charged to your account will be kept.

Anyone crying about this has the option to NOT BET THERE. A few of you are coming up with these scenarios that have nothing specifically to do with bet365. If I die tomorrow and no one knows I have a Pinny, 5Dimes, 365, Sportingbet or Centrebet account, the money will sit there forever. There isn't some worldwide unclaimed gambling money fund lol so how do you expect anyone to claim your money if they have no clue that there's even any money to be claimed?