VIP Scrutiny Means 'Old School' Operators Run Risks

• Traditional operators could be ripe for fines
• Eliminating under-25 VIPs could hurt some
• Restrictions bound to proliferate, executive says

Intensified regulatory scrutiny of high-roller programmes makes "old school" VIP schemes dangerous, a gambling executive has warned.  

With VIP plans under scrutiny in the UK and Sweden, executives at the recent SBC Barcelona Summit – Digital debated whether VIP bonus plans were dead or not.

Traditional VIP programmes where operators blindly send incentives to everyone spending above a certain level are certainly risky, said Gali Hartuv, head of VIP for Malta-based 10Bet.

"They're buying time before they get a fine," he said.