Guide · 7 min read
Stake factoring explained: why your maximum stake shrank
Yesterday the bookmaker took €500 on a Bundesliga match. Today the same market accepts €40. That is usually stake factoring: a multiplier the bookmaker sets on your account that scales every maximum stake up or down. Here is how it works, how to recognise it, and what you can and can't do about it.
Updated 22 October 2026
Contents
What stake factoring is
Every bookmaker sets a maximum stake (or maximum liability) for each market. A Champions League match result market might take a few thousand euros; a second-division corner market far less. These are the base limits, and they are the same for every customer.
On top of that, most bookmakers' risk systems give each account a stake factor: a number that multiplies the base limit. A new, unremarkable account usually starts at 1, so it gets the full base limit. A customer the bookmaker would like to keep may get more than 1. An account that the risk team sees as unprofitable to serve gets a factor below 1, sometimes far below.
So a factor of 0.1 turns a €2,000 limit into €200, and a factor of 0.01 turns it into €20. Bookmakers don't publish these factors, and the name varies (stake factor, risk factor, customer category), but the mechanism is widespread across the industry. "Limited" or "gubbed" in betting forums usually describes an account with a very low factor.
How it shows up
- The bet slip shows a lower maximum. When you enter a stake that is too high, the slip says something like "maximum stake €38.50". Odd, unrounded maximums are typical, because they are the result of a multiplication.
- It hits every market at once. Because the factor applies to the account, not to one event, the maximums drop across sports and leagues on the same day.
- Bets are sent for approval. Larger stakes go to a trader who offers part of the stake, a worse price, or nothing.
- Some markets or promotions disappear. Boosted prices, bonuses or early payout offers are no longer shown to your account.
- Factors can differ by sport or market type. Some bookmakers set separate factors, for example a lower one on pre-match football than on tennis, or a separate one for in-play.
Why bookmakers do it
A bookmaker earns its margin from customers whose bets, on average, lose. Its risk models look at things like which prices you bet (especially whether you regularly beat the closing price), how quickly you bet after a price changes, whether you only bet when its price is out of line with the market, which markets and stake sizes you use, and whether you take only bonuses and promotions. An account that looks like it consistently takes the best price in the market gets its factor cut, because every euro it bets is expected to cost the bookmaker money.
Sure betting fits that pattern almost by definition: you bet exactly when one bookmaker's price is higher than the rest of the market. That's why limits are the main practical constraint on arbitrage betting. The broader picture, including account closures and what slows limits down, is in bookmaker limits.
Recognise and record it
Don't guess; write it down. A simple log helps you decide where to put your balance and which bookmakers still make sense to keep.
- Note the maximum the slip shows for a few standard markets (for example a top-league match result) at regular intervals, with date and time.
- Compare with a friend's or a fresh account only by asking them what their slip shows. Never place bets through their account (see below).
- Screenshot any message about changed limits or "account review".
- Move most of your balance away from bookmakers where you can no longer place meaningful stakes, and withdraw what you don't need there.
In ArbVantage you can mark a bookmaker account as limited and record its maximum stake and a note, and the bet tracker shows which accounts you actually still use.
What it means for sure bets
A sure bet only works if every leg is accepted at the planned stake and price. A reduced maximum on one leg forces you to scale the whole bet down, or leaves you with an unhedged position if you place the other leg first.
A two-way market: Bookmaker A offers 2.40, Bookmaker B 1.75 on the other side. 1/2.40 + 1/1.75 = 0.4167 + 0.5714 = 0.9881, so the margin is about 1.2%. For a €1,000 total you would stake €421.69 at A and €578.31 at B. Both pay about €1,012, so about €12 more than you staked.
But A's slip only accepts €200. A's leg would then pay €200 × 2.40 = €480, so the matching stake at B is €480 ÷ 1.75 = €274.29. Total staked €474.29, payout €480 either way, about €5.71 more than you staked. The percentage stays the same; the euro amount halves.
| Situation | Stake at A | Stake at B | Result if all stands |
|---|---|---|---|
| No limit | €421.69 | €578.31 | about +€12.04 |
| A capped at €200, B scaled | €200.00 | €274.29 | about +€5.71 |
Two practical rules follow. First, place the leg at the bookmaker most likely to limit you first, so you know the accepted stake before you commit at the other one. Second, don't fill the cap and then "top up" at worse odds elsewhere without recalculating; the margin can disappear. In ArbVantage, the bet view tells you which leg to place first, and "Odds changed or bet rejected?" works out the other stakes from what you actually got on. Odd-looking stakes also draw attention, which is why many bettors round them; the arbitrage calculator guide shows what rounding costs.
What not to do
The tempting fix is to bet through someone else's account: a partner, a friend or a "rented" account. Don't. Bookmaker terms allow one account per person, used only by that person, and breaking that rule usually means confiscated winnings and closed accounts. In some cases it can also be unlawful. The details are in betting on someone else's account.
What is fine: friends and family opening their own accounts and placing their own bets, with their own money and their own decisions. If they want to use ArbVantage for that, our "Invite friends" programme pays you for each friend who subscribes; they bet for themselves. Also worth knowing: how many bookmakers you need in the first place (how many bookmaker accounts), because more licensed books mean more places to spread stakes.
Frequently asked questions
Can stake factoring be reversed?
Sometimes, but rarely on request. Bookmakers review factors automatically, and some accounts recover after a long period of ordinary betting. Asking customer service usually gets a standard answer that limits are a commercial decision.
Does stake factoring affect all markets?
Usually yes, because the factor is set on the account and multiplies every market's base limit. Some bookmakers set different factors per sport, market type or for in-play betting, so the reduction can be stronger in some places than others.
Is stake factoring legal?
Generally yes. A bookmaker is free to decide how much it accepts from each customer for future bets. What it may not normally do is cancel bets it has already accepted at a correct price, or keep a balance from correctly settled bets.
How do I know my account has been stake factored?
The bet slip shows a much lower maximum stake than before, often an odd, unrounded number, and the drop appears across many markets at once. Logging the maximum on a few standard markets over time makes it visible.
Sources
- RIS: Austrian Civil Code (ABGB), freedom of contract and § 879 (in German)
- Council Directive 93/13/EEC on unfair terms in consumer contracts
As of October 2026, checked against the linked sources. Not legal, tax or betting advice.
Betting involves risk, even with sure bets: prices move, bets get voided and accounts get limited. Only use money you can do without. Our responsible gambling page lists free help.
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