Matchbook Suspended my Account for Winning

**bolt** · 12-22-14, 08:51 AM

* In the post above, all references to October should have read December. My account has been frozen for 9 days, since 13 December. My account was opened in October. Apologies for any confusion caused.

**Playon** · 12-22-14, 09:21 AM

BTW, they have a fair oportunity to get 25€ free bet for new customer. That kind of bonuses are something we just dont get nowadays. For example nearly all british bookmarker have excluded all residents but british out of bonus offer.

**Hareeba!** · 12-22-14, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by bolt

Last Saturday, 13 October 2014, Matchbook froze access to my account.

Matchbook initially informed me only that my account was under investigation. On 16 October, their Compliance Team sent me an email enquiring as to my trading activity on an event on the Saturday.

I advised them as to my trading activity; I made a net profit of approximately £900 GBP on an EPL soccer match. All of my betting activity was in full compliance with their stated rules.

Their Compliance Team hasn't responded to any of my emails since 16 October. They have failed to provide any time frame for their investigation despite repeated requests.

My account remains frozen to date.

Matchbook.com betting exchange
Licensed & Regulated by UK Gambling Commission (UK resident customer)

That's weird.
Only £900.
EPL.
Surely they're not suggesting the game was fixed?
An explanation is due.
Perhaps SBR can get a comment from Matchbook?

**Optional** · 12-22-14, 02:56 PM

Feel free to submit a complaint form if you would like some help Bolt. http://www.sportsbookreview.com/sportsbook-complaint/

**bolt** · 12-22-14, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by Optional

Feel free to submit a complaint form if you would like some help Bolt. http://www.sportsbookreview.com/sportsbook-complaint/

Thanks. I submitted a dispute form and forwarded my communications with Matchbook to SBR earlier this afternoon (GMT).

Originally posted by Hareeba!

That's weird.
Only £900.
EPL.
Surely they're not suggesting the game was fixed?
An explanation is due.
Perhaps SBR can get a comment from Matchbook?

Thanks. Matchbook have not suggested that the game was fixed. They initially provided no reason for the suspension of my account and later, on 16 December, queried my trading activity on the match:

Our review of your betting activity indicates that you may have access to video streams and/or data feeds that are ahead of normal broadcasts. This was very evident from your trading activity during the Arsenal vs Newcastle game on Saturday, hence the temporary hold on your Matchbook account.

In light of the observation above, can you please provide more information on your trading activity?

The following day I offered my thoughts on my trading activity and other issues with regard to the match in question. My account remains suspended and Matchbook's Risk & Compliance Team have failed to respond since.

**Optional** · 12-22-14, 04:57 PM

Sometimes these investigations do take time (not specifically at Matchbook, but in general). It does not seem to indicate a negative result when they take a week or two though.

It could easily be someone else they are actually focused on and only spoke to you to rule you out.

Basically, try not to worry unnecessarily. ;-)

**bolt** · 12-22-14, 05:02 PM

Hopefully you're right and it will work out ok. However, it's very disappointing to be denied access to my account and for Matchbook to fail to offer any indication as to when they expect to complete their investigation.

**Hareeba!** · 12-22-14, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by bolt

Our review of your betting activity indicates that you may have access to video streams and/or data feeds that are ahead of normal broadcasts. This was very evident from your trading activity during the Arsenal vs Newcastle game on Saturday, hence the temporary hold on your Matchbook account.

I've never heard of doing this being deemed unacceptable trading.
Is it standard?

**Optional** · 12-22-14, 05:14 PM

Originally posted by Hareeba!

I've never heard of doing this being deemed unacceptable trading.
Is it standard?

I'm guessing they are actually looking for syndicates of people working with a live spotter at the match. If Bolt had a plausible reason he was ahead of the 'normal broadcast' and there is no evidence of a connection with other bettors he'll probably be fine imho.

**bolt** · 12-22-14, 05:29 PM

As far as I'm aware it's not specifically addressed in their rules.

For managed football markets, Matchbook, like most other exchanges, should in accordance with their rules seek to suspend the market if a goal, penalty or red card appears likely to be awarded. In the Arsenal v Newcastle match it seems that Matchbook may have neglected to suspend the market until up to 20 seconds after Arsenal's 2nd goal was scored (as live at stadium). It's often less clear cut whether a bet was placed prior to or after an event occurred live.

In unmanaged markets, such as most NFL matches on most betting exchanges, there is normally no suspend upon scores or penalties being awarded and in theory it's fastest feed/brain/finger first. However, despite their market maker advantages and own use of fast feeds, those who seed the exchange markets don't much like being beaten to the punch and don't always play/pay fair.

Current Matchbook rules (I've not yet checked for any amendments from date of bets):

Live Betting Market Administration

In the event of technical difficulties, including issues with or changes to the data feeds used to manage an event, Matchbook reserves the right to suspend a live market until such time as these issues can be resolved, or to decide against offering live betting on the market. In these circumstances Matchbook accepts no liability for a customer's inability to trade positions.
All bets placed in live betting markets will be subject to a time delay. The extent of this delay will vary across different sports and markets.
Customers should be aware that broadcasts described as 'live' may actually be delayed and the extent of these delays may vary depending on the broadcaster.

Soccer

Unless otherwise specified, wagers are for 90 minutes of play, including stoppage/injury time but not including added time for "golden goals," sudden death, or penalty shootouts.
Extra Time markets may be offered. These will be offered at the discretion of Matchbook and will be clearly labelled as Extra Time or ET markets.
For tournaments featuring single-elimination and similar formats, Matchbook may post "to advance" markets that settle on a match's final result, regardless of extra time. These markets will be clearly specified - check the event's "short form" rules for clarification on how match duration affects market settlement.
If a match is postponed or delayed and does not (or will not) start by midnight on the scheduled date then all bets on the match will be void unless we are aware that the match has been rescheduled to be played and completed within 36 hours of the original scheduled date.
If a match is abandoned or postponed after it has kicked-off then all bets on all markets associated with this match will be declared void, unless the match is completed (according to the official source) within 36 hours of the original scheduled date, except for any instance where an unconditional, definitive result for a market has already been determined prior to abandonment: for example, first goal scorer, time of first goal or half time result. In the event of an abandoned match restarting from the beginning (within the 36 hours), bets matched prior to kick-off of the original match and bets on markets, which have been unconditionally determined, will stand. All other bets will be declared void.
For Handicap wagering, the "-" sign indicates the favourite (just as with major North American sports).
In some cases, a team is given two handicap values. If they manage to overcome both of these, then you get a maximum return on your stake. When a handicap is made up of two parts, such as -0.0/0.5, or +1.0/1.5, it means that the bet is split evenly between the two handicaps. So if you back Team A +1.0/1.5 with $100, you are effectively betting $50 on Team A +1.0 and $50 on Team A +1.5. The market is similar to all markets in that you put up offers and take odds in the same way. However, because of the more complex rules surrounding Asian Handicap betting, it is not possible to display the profit and loss on this market. As on all markets, when you place a bet, money will be reserved from your account to cover your maximum possible liability on the market.
For Totals (Over/Under) wagering, matches must be completed or all wagers will be cancelled and refunded.
At the start of a Live Betting match, all open offers will be cancelled and the markets will be made available for live betting. The market will be suspended if it appears that a goal has been scored, a penalty has been awarded or a player has been sent off. If a goal has been scored, or a player has been sent off, all open offers will be cancelled and the market will be re-opened for live betting.

**xtrader** · 12-22-14, 05:38 PM

I see no foul play in being ahead of others. Never heard of Betfair doing anything like this. Smarkets kicked out a winning player a few years back, essentially protecting its own market makers. Hopefully Matchbook won't follow suit. Isn't there a Matchbook representative in the forum? This is a very serious case.

**xtrader** · 12-22-14, 05:50 PM

If they failed to suspend a market sure they can void bets, assuming their rules permit that. Betfair does void bets in such cases. Matchbook also has a rule about "trap offers". But suspending an account is something different.

**bolt** · 12-22-14, 05:59 PM

Agreed. It's a situation that should have been avoided by a properly functioning robot or market operator (suspend monkey as some would put it). However, I would have no objection to bets clearly placed after Arsenal's 2nd goal prior to the suspension of the market being voided.

**dealer wins** · 12-22-14, 06:10 PM

Anyone making live bets should understand that they will be betting against punters who are quite possibly watching the match live with their own eyes, or on a mobile to someone who is.

Why are matchbook even bothered, its 1.15% on every bet for them, or are they trading their own markets?

**Hareeba!** · 12-22-14, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by dealer wins

Anyone making live bets should understand that they will be betting against punters who are quite possibly watching the match live with their own eyes, or on a mobile to someone who is.

Why are matchbook even bothered, its 1.15% on every bet for them, or are they trading their own markets?

They rely on their market makers and don't want to have them put off by people like Bolt exploiting technological advantage.

**dealer wins** · 12-23-14, 05:14 AM

I may be completely wrong, but I though thats what the several seconds countdown is for, to stop courtsiders etc?

**daringly** · 12-23-14, 10:08 AM

If you found a way to bet in the narrow window after a goal was scored before they took the markets down (e.g. you were at the game and very fast) expect to have your account closed. MB, unlike BF, takes major efforts to prevent court-siding advantage. I have put in 1000's of in-game wagers at MB, and never had an issue where I was court-sided. The fact that MB actively prevents court-siding advantage makes it possible for players not at the match to play and not get screwed. This, in turn, increases liquidity.

I'm not sure what the cause of your issue is, but if it is a court-siding issue, don't expect to preserve that advantage.

**bolt** · 12-27-14, 03:45 PM

Update:

My Matchbook account has now been locked for 14 days.

On 23 December, Matchbook sent me an email indicating that they intended to re-open my account. That was conditional on me agreeing to refrain from trading in the unspecified way that they observed during the Arsenal v Newcastle game on 13 December.

Whilst, on reflection, the tone of my response was not quite as I would have wished, I fully stand by the content. I indicated that I would be willing to agree to any reasonable request but was unwilling to agree to the unknown. If Matchbook are requesting that I refrain from submitting bets based on the fastest feeds available to me, I do not consider that to be a reasonable request.

I offered my opinion that if Matchbook improved their management of their live soccer markets and combined that with suitable rules, they would have no need to seek special favours from me or anyone else. If I agreed to refrain from x, y and z, in itself that would only temporarily mask the underlying issues.

Most recent email from Matchbook:

Dear Mr.***,

Once again thank you for your continued patience in this matter.

While we do appreciate your skill, we do have an obligation to ensure fairness and a level playing field for other exchange users.

Before we reopen your account we would respectfully ask that going forward you refrain from betting in the way we observed on the Arsenal vNewcastle game.

Thank you in advance for your response.

--------------- Original Message---------------
From: Bolt[***@gmail.com]
Wesley| Matchbook Support

**RonPaul2008** · 12-27-14, 04:27 PM

Wow! Matchbook will suspend you for having a faster then common feed to a game? LOL . I used to make sure to only use an old tv, no digital, because it was faster then the digital feed and even disconnect cable at times because it was faster without it. Who wants to be on a slower then possible feed? That's crazy. Even if you are at the game, so what? If they want to boot you that's their right but they really have no good standing not to pay you imo.

**Optional** · 12-28-14, 07:53 AM

Nice to see they are having an open dialogue with you Bolt. Looks like you are handling it very well.

**jjgold** · 12-28-14, 09:19 AM

Matchbook is one of best books you will ever find

Too bad usa players not allowed

**Hareeba!** · 12-28-14, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by jjgold

Matchbook is one of best books you will ever find

Too bad usa players not allowed

Why is that "too bad"?
Aren't US players "too dumb" to play on an exchange?

**sheepgotwool** · 12-28-14, 02:34 PM

US players are not too dumb to play at exchanges. Made lots at exchanges and pricing is way better than the chit books offer . One of these days exchanges will come back. There is just too much money to be made from them !! Even betmaker.ag had 80,000 to 100,000 in play just on one live sunday night game. So if you do the math the book made a pretty good profit just on commissions from that one game. It's a shame right now that no one steps up and makes an exchange for US sports punters. It's almost as if sportsbook operators are too stupid to figure out that they can make mucho money from this.

**bolt** · 12-30-14, 09:06 AM

Matchbook re-opened my account this morning. All wagers placed before my account was locked, including bets on the Arsenal v Newcastle match, have been honoured. My account appears to be fully functional.

On the down side, it seems that I may face problems if I place further bets using any feeds that are quicker than Eurosport HD: We would ask that you kindly refrain from utilizing your "fast feeds" for inplay betting.

Thanks to all who contributed to the thread.

**jjgold** · 12-30-14, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by sheepgotwool

US players are not too dumb to play at exchanges. Made lots at exchanges and pricing is way better than the chit books offer . One of these days exchanges will come back. There is just too much money to be made from them !! Even betmaker.ag had 80,000 to 100,000 in play just on one live sunday night game. So if you do the math the book made a pretty good profit just on commissions from that one game. It's a shame right now that no one steps up and makes an exchange for US sports punters. It's almost as if sportsbook operators are too stupid to figure out that they can make mucho money from this.

They will never be back...no volume

Majority of american bettors are traditional
Only guys that used exchanges were arbers and bonus scammers/whores

**sheepgotwool** · 12-30-14, 09:29 PM

They will be back as time evolves. Way more things you can do with an exchange than a traditional book. Also way more live betting options as long as there is market makers. If an exchange is properly marketed enough players will come. Exchanges are the wave of the future in sports betting. That is why betfair is so successful. Once more people in the USA understand this, which will come at some point than things will change again. Even if sports betting was regulated in USA at some point than someone would be smart enough eventually to open up an exchange because from a bookmaker's perspective there is still a lot of money to be made off of the commissions. When players and bookmakers are happy all at once that is when good things happen. The consumer and the company in any type of business need to be happy together to achieve the ultimate success, so it's a matter of time before this happens. Right now a lot of bettors aren't happy with the way the books operate for multiple reasons and on the other side of things books aren't happy because deposits are becoming less and less. There needs to be more equal balance in the industry and it is obvious that exchanges are the answer to that question.

**jjgold** · 12-31-14, 11:28 AM

Sheeps do you realize not one exchange can even dent betfair in The UK?????

There is no need for any other but Betfair

**sheepgotwool** · 12-31-14, 01:11 PM

I know that . Betfair is untouchable but their volume is legendary !! It is possible for an exchange to have decent volume from US bettors that is all i'm saying. Everyone in the US isn't a sheep ya know ! Bookmakers have already tightened up(meaning only the strong are surviving) in Costa Rica and on the islands and the next step is to get some exchanges going. Way more options and bookmakers are losing money because they aren't stepping up to the plate. Bookmakers will at some point realize that bettors want more than just a line a total and a moneyline. Bettors want safety, reliability, and flexibility which is what exchanges offer. Their is no flexibility at these tighty whitey books that are offering lines to US bettors. Another words in order for books to get customers back and move forward into the future they are going to have to offer something else besides what they are offering currently.

**xtrader** · 01-01-15, 06:45 AM

Even though Matchbook is doing well in Europe today the small punter still prefers Betfair. Matchbook is very popular with arbers and other mid\high rollers. Success isn't easy for exchanges.

**jjgold** · 01-01-15, 12:46 PM

Sheeps I hear you man

I would welcome it but its very unlikely in todays environment

**justlaw** · 02-21-15, 08:06 AM

Is there any representative of matchbook aroud here?