The Evolution of 'Whale' Management

The management of 'whales' (high-stakes bettors) has shifted from a relationship-based **credit model** in the analog era to a data-driven, compliance-heavy framework today. Historically, bookmakers managed whales via personal hosting and credit lines, focusing on debt collection risk. The offshore boom introduced **rebates on losses** and the 'post-up' model. The modern digital era brought **algorithmic segmentation**, allowing books to aggressively limit 'sharp' (winning) whales while courting 'soft' (losing) whales. However, recent regulatory crackdowns on problem gambling have forced a pivot toward **Source of Wealth (SoW)** checks, effectively ending the 'no-questions-asked' VIP culture in regulated markets.