Sportsbet forced to pay out millions to furious punters
AFL punters around the country have had a major win in court, with popular bookmaker Sportsbet forced to pay out almost $9 million after refusing to honour winning bets.
VIC News
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Footy fans fleeced out of winnings during the AFL season have had a post-season win after a bookmaker was forced to make one of the biggest contested payouts in Aussie betting history.
Sportsbet has been forced to pay almost $9 million to about 2000 punters who placed bets during Round 10 of the AFL season but controversially had their results ruled void.
Punters were left fuming when Sportsbet refused to honour bets on players getting 40 possessions or more in May despite the online agency taking their money before later cancelling bets.
Sportsbet accepted bets that no player would reach 40-plus disposals in Round 10 matches at an average of $1.75 but cancelled them before the round started, stating they were an “error”.
But, in a decision handed down by an independent umpire on Thursday, customer’s bets previously voided by the company were ordered to be paid in full.
No player reached 40 disposals in the nine matches played that round. Adelaide’s Brad Crouch (39) and Collingwood’s Adam Treloar (38) came closest.
Sportsbet said it would not appeal the ruling by the Northern Territory Racing Commission, where Sportsbet is licensed.
Punters could expect their accounts to be topped up by Derby Day.
“We acknowledge the NT Commission’s determination today and we will be topping up the accounts of the affected customers as soon as possible,’’ Sportsbet said in a statement.
Punters complained of being denied payouts of more than $30,000 after Sportsbet admitted a “rare pricing error’’, claiming odds it published were incorrect.
In its ruling, the Commission ruled it was “satisfied’’ the “betting markets were offered
in error and were not the prices that it intended to offer at the time the disputed bets
were struck’’.
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But it determined all bets struck on the nine betting markets for 40-plus possessions in Round 10 were lawful.
“All persons who made a winning bet on any or all of the nine Sportsbet AFL +40 betting markets for round 10 of the 2019 AFL season are entitled to be paid the full amount of the winning bet that was struck,’’ it said.
Punters celebrated a ruling five months in the making.
Sportsbet advised the Commission the betting markets were opened at 2pm on May 20 and
related to nine AFL matches to be played between May 24 and 26.