Coral Connect

Coral/Ladbrokes (Entain) Changing Connect and Grid Schemes

For a while, it felt like all the bookies were coming up with instore cards that had snappy names like Coral Connect, Paddy Power Plus, and Ladbrokes’ The Grid.

One did it and the rest fell over themselves to follow – well, except Betfred, who remained staunchly in the noughties.

One of the benefits that all of these cards boasted, was the ability to link your online funds to your real life funds, by allowing in store bettors to use online funds to make bets in store, and vice versa.

So you could take a £20 note into your local bookie and have them stick it in your online account, or alternatively, a bet that you won online could be withdrawn as cash in store.

It’s obvious to see why this would be popular, and although there were other benefits, for many of us it was this flexibility that made these cards worthwhile.

It’s odd then that Ladbrokes and Coral, who are both owned by the same company, Entain, have decided to remove this feature with just a few weeks notice.

What is Happening to the Coral Connect Card and Ladbrokes The Grid?

I got an email from Coral last Tuesday, and an almost identical one from Ladbrokes the day after.

To be clear, these schemes aren’t being scrapped altogether (although I personally think it might just be a matter of time), but the ability to link online funds and real life funds is being stopped.

The two card schemes are instead being turned into reward schemes.

Coral Connect Changes

There are no real details on what this will involve, or how it will be different from just taking offers and promotions online and in store, but in the past, punters with these cards have had access to exclusive offers and promotions or little freebies in the shop, so I would expect more of the same.

I can’t really think of what else they might do though, so it does make me wonder what the point is going to be.

Many of the bookie card schemes have been under utilised in my experience, so this might actually be a way to revive them somewhat if it is done with some imagination, but like anything with bookies, if it isn’t fast in making them money it will be quickly and quietly forgotten about.

Why Have These Changes Been Made?

Responsible GamblingThat hasn’t been explained.

However, with the government white paper is about to (finally) be released and with an expected heavier focus on social responsibility and problem gambling, so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Entain are trying to get ahead of the curve.

The card schemes are very convenient for punters with online accounts it’s true, but they are also open to abuse, since anyone with cash can use them.

Cash is the least traceable payment method, so criminal gangs could potentially use this as a way to launder money bit by bit, and it also makes it easier for problem gamblers to slip through the cracks too.

Obviously, this was never what the cards were intended to be used for, and the last thing Entain need is another big fine, so taking away a product that could be mis-used is probably a good idea for them.

What Action Should People With Existing Cards Take?

Confused ManYou don’t need to do anything in terms of handing in the card or anything like that, it will just stop being quite so useful. It will also serve as the new rewards cards the two bookies are rebranding their old schemes as.

However, if you have any money loaded onto your cards you should get that off as soon as you can. This only really applies to Connect/Grid customers who bet exclusively in store, as those with online accounts will still be able to access any funds from there.

All online accounts will be unlinked from the cards though, so online account holders won’t be able to use online funds in store anymore.

Any bets placed in shop using Connect or the Grid that are still unsettled before the changes take place can be transferred to cash by presenting winning bet slips to cashiers in the usual way.

Anyone without an existing card can sign up for the new rewards cards after the 17th of April by popping into their local shop and providing a few details.