Sportsbet facing potential class action in the millions after AFL multibet saga
Sportsbet has apologised to customers, after the gambling giant voided certain AFL bets on the weekend which ended up being successful. But the woes may continue for the gambling giant with angry punters considering class action.
VIC News
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Gambling giant Sportsbet has apologised as it potentially faces a class action worth millions of dollars after it voided certain AFL bets on the weekend — which ended up being successful.
The Herald Sun can confirm Slater and Gordon is looking into a potential class action.
“Slater and Gordon has received several enquiries regarding this novel issue, and is investigating whether such claims may be viable,” a spokesperson for Slater and Gordon said.
A Sportsbet spokesperson told the Herald Sun it last week “made a rare pricing error.”
“We picked the error up early – well in advance of the AFL round – and notified our customers and returned their funds in line with our terms and conditions.
“In recognition of missing the mark, we’re going to reinstate our customers’ bets and pay them at the correct odds.
A new Twitter account, Sportsbet Lawsuit, has already attracted more than 1100 followers.
“Any screenshots of voided bets, evidence that you think is relevant, please (send to me) directly,” the account states.
The outrage stems from Sportsbet, which is licensed in the Northern Territory, voiding bets that allowed punters to multi up no player getting 40 or more possessions in any of the matches on the weekend.
In the end, no player got 40 possessions or more for the round.
Angry punters have published screen shots of their voided bets, including one punter who put $200.07 on the multi at odds of $151.06 to win $30,223.01.
— Sam Kendall (@SamKendall2) May 26, 2019
Adrian Johnson, who works as an assistant producer at AFL Nation, said on Twitter that 2000 punters nationwide “would’ve been paid out more than $9 million”.
In an email to punters who had their bets cancelled prior to the weekend’s matches, Sportsbet claimed the odds they published were incorrect which meant they were entitled to void the bets.
However, one Twitter user who claims to have placed a losing multibet on the same market - he bet on players to reach the 40-disposal barrier in the Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, Adelaide v West Coast and Fremantle v Brisbane Lions games - posted a screenshot showing his bet was deemed to have lost, rather than void.
For all those involved in the 40+ markets , Sportsbet did not void the bets on the Yes markets......... Shifty shifty shifty @SB40PlusLawsuit @ClarkyHeraldSun pic.twitter.com/DjZuGMrdGL
— Alex M (@alexmate2399) May 27, 2019
Sportsbet is still reeling from deciding to pay out $1.3 million on a Labor win before the federal election.