Poll: Should operators offer guaranteed lays to online punters?

Coral recently pledged to lay up to £5,000 on any Channel 4 race and £2,000 on any race above a Class 4 handicap in a move designed to address the growing rancour around restrictions and betting limits.

Shrewd punters have long complained about being limited by bookmakers, but in recent weeks the issue has gained increased public traction after featuring in mainstream media and declining interest in horse racing.

There is a sense that trading teams at major European operators have played things safe in recent years, relying on restrictions and exchanges in place of more aggressive and independent pricing.

Welcoming smarter money might allow these trading teams to improve margins, even if it means greater exposure. In an increasingly homogenised market, any way to differentiate has to be welcomed.

But while Coral’s move only applies to shops, could it be worth extending the offer to incorporate online too and should other bookmakers follow suit?

In Australia, bookmakers are being forced to take the Coral approach, with the state of New South Wales moving to ban bookmakers from screening successful punters. But with no such legal obligation to accept wagers in the UK, the reasons for UK bookmakers to voluntary open themselves up to increased risk appear to remain few and far between.

So with this in mind, this week’s eGaming Review poll asks whether or not operators could benefit from replicating and extending Coral’s in-shop offer online. You can vote on the right hand side of the page.