Monash University maths whiz fights for $150k Dusty Martin-Billy Slater multibet ‘winnings’

JONATHAN Simon doubled down on Dusty Martin and Billy Slater winning best on ground in their 2017 grand finals at the juicy odds of 4096-1, only for Tabcorp to reject the multibet’s massive $147,456 “winning” payout. But he’s not giving up.

A MATHS whiz who doubled down on a Dustin Martin and Billy Slater multibet is fighting for a $150,000 pay out.

Jonathan Simon placed a three-leg $36 bet on multiple combinations of Dustin Martin to win the Norm Smith medal and Billy Slater to win the Clive Churchill medal for best on ground in the AFL and NRL grand finals last year.

He received multiplied odds of 4096 to 1 for the bet placed at the Glasshouse, a family bar and bistro in Caulfield on September 29 last year — the day before Richmond’s drought-breaking premiership.

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Martin took out the Norm Smith from Bachar Houli the next day and Billy Slater won his second Churchill medal with a dominating performance in the Storm’s win over the North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday October 1.

But Tabcorp rejected the $147,456 “winning” bet because it had the same outcome in two legs but in a different order, which skewed the odds.

Mr Simon, 20, who is studying statistical mathematics at Monash University, has now taken his fight to the gaming industry’s umpire.

“Tabcorp’s arguments for not paying the bet just don’t make sense. I’m legally entitled to $150,000. If they paid I would give 10 per cent to charity, maybe take some friends on a holiday give some to my family to use and save for a house.”

Tabcorp has offered to pay Mr Simon almost $5000, but he refused.

“It’s a matter of principle, I don’t like to be wronged,” he said.

The bet was allowed, he argued, because the TAB had separate specials on the AFL and NRL best on ground awards as a multi, so each leg had a different bet contingency number.

Mr Simon first complained to Tabcorp in October last year but claimed he did not receive a response.

Jonathan Simon is fighting to get a $150,000 pay out on a multibet. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Billy Slater after receiving his Churchill Medal during the 2017 NRL Grand Final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Dustin Martin with his 2017 Norm Smith medal, which Jonathan Simon backed in a disputed multibet.

He hired a lawyer in November last year to fight the claim.

The lawyer received an email from Tabcorp, according to a complaint letter seen by the Herald Sun, saying the bet was “rejected as an invalid multi bet” but as a “goodwill gesture” they would offer $1,152, which Mr Simon rejected.

Tabcorp sent a revised offer of $4,608 in December, which he also knocked back.

He then filed a complaint with the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation in February.

The VCGLR last night confirmed its investigation was under way.

“The VCGLR is aware of and is investigating this matter. As it is currently under investigation, it is not appropriate to comment further,” it said in a statement.

Mr Simon, who scored 51 after scaling up in Specialist mathematics in Year 12 towards his ATAR ranking of 99.4, was a regular multi bet punter.

He has spent several thousand on legal fees fighting the claim.

Tabcorp said in a statement: “As this matter is before the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation it is inappropriate for us to comment on it.”

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