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[personal profile] original_aj 2021-12-01 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
I think it derives from the gambling idea - having a punt on something means taking a chance, putting out some money which might but is not guarenteed to produce a desired return.

In my experience, people refer to their customers as Punters in situations where what they are selling is an experience, rather than an item, and the customers are taking their expected enjoyment on trust, gambling that the experience will be worth the cost. So customers of sex workers, visitor attractions, bars and cafes/takeaways and similar businesses - but not shops. Usually used in a context where there is little or no personalisation, the customers are interchangeable rather than individuals, and between the staff rather than to the customers themselves.