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What is mug betting? Stop getting banned by the bookmakers in 2019

Mug betting is an important strategy for many bettors out there. But what are mug bets and how can you use them to stop the bookies banning your accounts in 2019? Read on to find out more.

What is mug betting?

Mug betting is a process used by bettors to disguise their betting activity from bookmakers.

This process is typically used by matched bettors who aim to hide their betting patterns to avoid getting ‘gubbed’ by the bookmakers.

For those of you wondering what ‘gubbed’ means, it refers to when a bookmaker restricts your betting account in some way or another. Over time and as you increase your matched betting activity, this becomes more likely.

Mug betting is placing bets that don’t qualify for a promotion or bonus. For any matched bettors out there, they’re the same as qualifying bets except there’s no free bet at the end.

What’s the aim of mug betting?

As I mentioned above, mug betting aims to make matched bettors look like regular gamblers (who aren’t in it just for the free bets and promotions).

The importance of mug betting

As you probably know, the bookies offer countless promotions to attract new and existing customers. It’s these offers that matched bettors live off. However, you can’t have it all your way.

Bettors need to give something back to the bookmakers or else they will close accounts. If the bookies don’t make any money, there won’t be any promotions or free bets in the first place.

For this reason, the bookies keep a close eye on every customer’s account. Whilst you may think this is a little ‘big brother’, you can understand why they do it.

Punters who continually win or only take advantage of free bets and bonuses are likely to have their account gubbed, restricted in some way or worse, closed.

This is a way for the bookies to protect their bottom line, allowing them to provide more promotions for customers which in turn helps bettors make more money.

How much do the bookies know?

Each bookmaker has its accounts team. It may be 5 people, it could be 200. It depends on the size of the company.

As you’ve already seen, they need to work out which accounts are profitable and which aren’t. They’re looking for bettors who aren’t playing fairly and are just taking advantage of their promotions.

How do bookies track accounts?

A simple profit and loss account shows which customers are ‘up’ and which are ‘down’. The more profitable a customer is, the more likely their account will be restricted in some way.

In matched betting, you can’t control where your bets win however, you should always aim to win your back and lay bets at a betting exchange rather than a bookie.

IP addresses are used to show where accounts have been created and where bets have been placed.

Bookmakers using IP addresses

They do this to prevent multiple accounts being created at one household. If you try to create an account with an IP address which has already been used, it will be flagged immediately

Cookies are another way the bookies keep an eye on your online activity. Everything you do on the bookie’s site is stored and profiled allowing them to work out who’s doing what.

The only way to restrict the amount of information the bookie’s profile is by regularly deleting your cookies and browsing history. Another option is to bet as a mug bettor would.

Watching a live stream is a great example. There’s always a mug bettor in the local bookie watching the horse race they’ve just bet on, so you should do that online. Bet365 and Skybet both have great live streaming platforms that are worth checking out.

How to place mug bets

Mug betting involves a very simple process. Head to the bookmaker, place a bet on any market you wish and voila you’re done.

If you wish, you can also place a lay bet at a betting exchange to cover any losses. That way, you’d only lose a small amount of money placing mug bets. However you place mug bets, they are vital to long term success with matched betting and will ultimately allow you to make more money.

How often to place mug bets?

For the long term profitability of matched betting, it’s important to mug bet regularly. You don’t want the bookies thinking you only use their platform to benefit from their promotions and free bets.

It’s totally up to you how many mug bets you place but I recommend you place a mug bet for every free bet offer you complete. Put simply, the more you do, the more you’ll look like a mug punter and the longer your account will stay un-restricted.

This means more profit in the long run.

Other mug betting tips

There are also other ways for you to blend in with the betting crowd that sits alongside mug betting.

Bet timing

Placing a bet long in advance of kick-off will arouse suspicion at the bookies. It may not always be possible to place bets just before the event kicks off. However, the closer you can get, the more you’ll blend in with the crowd.

Timing your matched bets

Don’t stake the minimum

Another tip that sits alongside mug betting is not staking the minimum to qualify for free bets or bonuses. Whilst keeping the qualifying loss to a minimum is an important part of any matched betting strategy, it should not come at a cost.

You may want to stake the minimum requirement to be eligible for the offer. However, this tells the bookmaker you’re only in it for the free bet. Mug punters would not bother about the minimum requirement so you shouldn’t.

Stakes matter

It’s very important to stake round numbers at the bookmakers. Mug punters would never stake a decimal amount like £20.76, therefore you shouldn’t. This doesn’t apply for betting exchanges, you can stake what you like at these platforms.

Another good tip is to stake a regular amount with the same bookie. For example, if you staked £30 at Skybet last week, do the same the following week. This creates a consistent pattern which the bookies like.

Backing a team

A regular gambler will have a favourite team they always back. This is another tactic that you should consider using in matched betting to help you blend in with the crowd.

Price boosts

Another great way to stay low is to bet on price boosts. Both SkyBet and William Hill have some great price boosts to profit from on many different sports.

Betting markets

Backing a team to win in the Icelandic third division is more likely to arouse suspicion than picking a winner in a champions league fixture. If you stick to the popular markets where the majority of bettors are, you are less likely to be flagged by the bookies.

Mug betting summary

Mug betting is an essential part of matched betting and other strategies so you must understand what it’s for and how it works.

If you think like your average punter, you won’t go far wrong in terms of your account being flagged by the bookmakers.

Finally, if you think your bet is going to arouse suspicion it probably will. There will always be another offer or promotion you can profit from so don’t rush in with your bets. Be in it for the long run.

Let me know your thoughts on mug betting by leaving a comment below right now.