How to Avoid Bookmaker Limitations

Smart strategies to keep your betting accounts unlimited and profitable for longer.

You've been a successful sports bettor for quite some time and your profit is piling up. All is fine and dandy—until you get limited.

One by one, bookmakers start limiting your accounts. Sound familiar? Don't worry, you're not alone.

So, how to avoid bookmaker limitations? This article has you covered! We've gathered all our top tips to help you avoid bookmaker restrictions and keep your betting game strong.

Why Bookmakers Limit Winning Bettors

Bookmakers are businesses designed to make money. They prefer recreational customers who lose consistently over professional bettors who win.

When you consistently beat the closing line, find positive EV opportunities, or exploit arbitrage, bookmakers notice. Their algorithms flag winning accounts, and trading teams review your activity.

The result: Your maximum stake gets restricted from €1,000 to €50, or €10, or even €1. You're not banned—just neutered. The account stays open, but you can't profit anymore.

How to Use Your Betting Accounts

Using your betting accounts wisely is crucial for staying under the radar and avoiding bookmaker limitations. It's not just about placing bets; it's about employing smart strategies to keep your accounts in good standing.

In the following tips, you'll learn how to make the most of bonuses, spread your activity across multiple bookmakers, and use varied account details to stay ahead.

These simple yet effective practices can help you enjoy a smoother, more rewarding betting experience without the hassle of sudden restrictions.

Strategy #1: Make a Small First Deposit

Why this works:

• Large initial deposits (€500-1,000+) trigger automated reviews
• New accounts with big deposits look like professionals or bonus abusers
• Small deposits (€50-100) blend in with recreational bettors
• You can gradually increase deposit amounts as the account ages

Example strategy:

1. First deposit: €50-100
2. Wait 1-2 weeks, place some bets
3. Second deposit: €150-250
4. Wait another week
5. Third deposit: €300-500
6. Continue gradually increasing

Strategy #2: Don't Use the Same Account Details at All Bookmakers

What to vary:

• Usernames: Use different usernames at each book
• Email addresses: Create multiple emails (Gmail allows + addressing: yourname+bet365@gmail.com)
• Login patterns: Don't use same password everywhere
• Registration details: Vary within legal limits (still must be your real name/address for KYC)

Important note: You must still provide real, verifiable information for KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. This strategy makes cross-platform tracking harder but won't defeat proper identity verification.

Strategy #3: Don't Withdraw Immediately After a Fulfilled Bonus

Why this matters:

• Deposit → Clear rollover → Immediate withdrawal = obvious bonus abuse pattern
• Bookmakers flag accounts that only bet during promotions
• Looks like you're using them as a bank, not a betting platform

Better approach:

1. Clear the bonus rollover requirement
2. Wait 3-7 days
3. Place a few additional bets (can be small recreational bets)
4. Then withdraw
5. Leave some funds in the account (€20-50) for next time

This makes you look like a normal bettor who occasionally withdraws, not a bonus hunter.

Strategy #4: Use Many Bookmakers

The math:

If you make €10,000 profit at one bookmaker, you'll get limited fast. If you make €500 profit across 20 bookmakers, each individual book sees much smaller wins and may not restrict you.

Additional benefits of multiple bookmakers:

• Line shopping: Always get the best odds
• More opportunities: Different books have different markets
• Redundancy: When one limits you, 19 others still work
• Bonus stacking: Claim deposit bonuses at each
• Diversified risk: Not dependent on any single bookmaker

Recommended: Sign up at 10-20+ sportsbooks minimum.

Strategy #5: Take Action to Stay Under the Radar

One way to avoid bookmaker limitations is to try to stay under the bookmakers' radar for as long as possible.

Smart practices:

• Vary your bet sizes: Don't always bet exact round numbers (€100, €250). Bet €87, €213, €156 instead.
• Avoid obvious patterns: Don't only bet on markets where you have edge. Mix in some recreational bets occasionally.
• Don't bet every single +EV opportunity: Being selective looks less like automated betting
• Timing: Don't always bet immediately when odds drop. Sometimes wait 30-60 seconds.
• Account age: Older accounts get limited slower than new accounts

Advanced Privacy Measures

Some experienced bettors use additional technical measures to extend account longevity:

Device and browser management:

• Different browsers: Use Chrome for one book, Firefox for another, Safari for a third
• Incognito mode: Use private browsing for all betting sessions
• Clear cookies regularly: Prevents tracking across sessions
• User-agent switcher: Chrome extension to vary your browser fingerprint (pick common ones)

Advanced multi-accounting considerations:

Note: Multi-accounting (having multiple accounts at the same bookmaker) violates most terms of service and can lead to account closure and fund confiscation. The following is for educational purposes only.

• Never use the same computer for multiple accounts at same book
• Absolutely never the same web browser
• Best practice: New device and new SIM card you haven't used on the bookmaker before
• Don't connect to same WiFi as former device—prefer mobile data (4G, 5G)
• Use incognito mode always
• Different payment methods if possible

Warning: Creating multiple accounts at the same bookmaker is against terms of service at virtually all sportsbooks and can result in permanent bans and fund seizures. This information is provided for educational purposes to understand how bookmakers detect multiple accounts.

Note on VPNs: Many bookmakers prohibit VPN usage in their terms of service. Using a VPN might avoid geo-restrictions but could violate terms and lead to account closure. Use at your own risk and always check the specific book's rules.

What to Do When You Get Limited

Despite your best efforts, limitations will eventually happen if you're a winning bettor. Here's how to handle it:

Accept it gracefully:

• Don't argue with customer service (won't help)
• Don't create new accounts (violates terms, risks funds confiscation)
• Move on to other bookmakers

Pivot your strategy:

• Focus on sharp bookmakers like Pinnacle (they don't limit winners)
• Use limited accounts for low-hold betting to clear bonuses elsewhere
• Some limited accounts still allow small bets—use them for arb legs

Have a plan: Assume every soft bookmaker will eventually limit you. That's why having 10-20 accounts is essential. When one gets limited, you have 19 backups.

Bookmakers That Don't Limit Winners

Not all bookmakers limit winning bettors. Some embrace sharp action:

Pinnacle:

• Famously doesn't limit winners
• Accepts high stakes from professionals
• Uses sharp action to set more accurate lines
• The gold standard for unlimited betting

Betting exchanges (Betfair, Matchbook):

• Peer-to-peer betting, not against the house
• Can't get limited (you're betting against other users)
• Pay commission on winnings instead of vig on odds

Use these unlimited books as your core bankroll home. Use soft books opportunistically while they last.

Complete List of Tips to Avoid Sportsbook Limitations

Basic Strategies (Essential for Everyone)

1. Small first deposits (€50-100, not €500-1,000)
2. Don't deposit entire bankroll at once (use smaller sums over time)
3. Different account details across bookmakers (usernames, emails)
4. Don't withdraw until you're limited (keep funds working)
5. Round your stakes like normal punters (€50, €25, €10—not €47.23)
6. Use 10-20+ bookmakers to spread activity
7. Place smaller bets initially (€10-20 to start, build up gradually)
8. Mix in recreational bets on your favorite team (preferably low odds)
9. Don't bet every +EV opportunity (be selective, look normal)
10. Delay some bets (don't always bet instantly when odds drop)
11. Keep some funds in account (don't withdraw to €0 every time)
12. Age your accounts (older = more trusted)
13. Avoid obvious bonus abuse patterns

Advanced Strategies (For Serious Longevity)

"Priming" your account:

If you have the patience, prime your account by betting like a normal recreational punter for 3-4 months. Bet on teams you'd normally support, bet on popular markets, lose some money intentionally.

If you're lucky, you will avoid their initial review algorithm, and can then value/sure bet for much longer before getting flagged. This is the ultimate long-game strategy—lose €100-200 over 3 months to make €5,000+ over the next year.

The Reality of Limitations

No matter how careful you are, if you're a long-term winning bettor, you will eventually get limited at soft bookmakers. It's not a matter of if, but when.

The strategies in this guide can extend your unlimited period from weeks to months, or even years. But understand that limitations are the bookmaker's way of protecting their business model.

The professional approach:

• Extract maximum value while accounts are unlimited
• Have 10-20 bookmaker accounts as backups
• Focus on sharp books like Pinnacle for long-term home
• View soft bookmakers as temporary profit sources
• Reinvest winnings to build bankroll

Want to find value bets across 60+ bookmakers before accounts get limited? Start your free trial with FairOdds Terminal and maximize profits while your accounts are still unlimited.

Avoid Bookmaker Limitations FAQ