Free 'no lose' £20 World Cup bet

smk77 · 18 June 2010 at 9:58AM

OO7 wrote: »

No one is being forced but they are clearly using unscrupulous promotional spiel. If fact I would go as far as to say it's deceptive.

Here is the email I received from them just today:

I've underlined the parts that contradict their T&Cs. My advice: stay clear people.

I agree that it contradicts their T&Cs. However, the change to the T&Cs has been forced upon them as a result of the high numbers taking up the offer - more than likely because of MSEs newsletter. I doubt that it was their intention to change the T&Cs mid way through the promotion and use "unscrupulous promotional spiel".

Like all bookies they will have spent a long time and a lot of money creating an advertising campaign for the World Cup. Do you expect them ditch their emails, numerous affiliate graphical adverts, mailshots etc and spend time and money updating all their promotional material?

Anyway, as you say, stay clear.

jellyhead · 18 June 2010 at 10:00AM

I've tried to withdraw my losing £20 from yesterday, will let you know if they won't let me have it.

jellyhead · 18 June 2010 at 10:02AM

smk77 wrote: »

Do you expect them ditch their emails, numerous affiliate graphical adverts, mailshots etc and spend time and money updating all their promotional material?

Those words from the email are also on their website. They could manage to change the website, surely? possibly even add a note that the offer has changed, so that anyone trying to join using the offer they'd seen advertised would know it had changed.

Totality · 18 June 2010 at 10:48AM

I know its not 20quid, but Skybet are doing £5 free.

I couldn't see it on the Skybet website but found it here and the link on there comes up as £5 free.

EDIT: From the T&C's:

- The £5 free bet can be redeemed against any single or each-way market and cannot be used in conjunction with the other parts of this offer i.e you cannot use free bets to qualify for your next free bet. You must use real money bets to claim the other offers.

- You must place bets on odds of evens or above to qualify for the free bets.

- Free bets are non-withdrawable and not included in any returns.

pretzelnut · 18 June 2010 at 11:16AM

I just cashed out my original £20 bet.

smk77 · 18 June 2010 at 11:16AM

jellyhead wrote: »

Those words from the email are also on their website. They could manage to change the website, surely? possibly even add a note that the offer has changed, so that anyone trying to join using the offer they'd seen advertised would know it had changed.

So it's not different to other offers that you get from bookmakers. An example from Betinternet I got today with a typical "IF" offer:

1-1 For The Money - England Money Back Special
For the match between England and Algeria we will be refunding all losing bets on our Correct Score, 1st and Last Goalscorer markets if the match finishes 1-1.*

So, that would suggest that if I bet on England to win 2-0 but it's 1-1 then I'll get my money back....But hang on..the '*' suggests there are T&Cs....further down the email is a link to the T&C...

A Free Bet Voucher to the value of the bet placed, up to 50GBP* (or currency equivalent) will be awarded if the England v Algeria match on 18th June 2010 finishes in a 1-1 draw.

so, it's just a free bet voucher..

The point is simple...Never sign up to any offer (bookmaker or anything else - nPower free fridge on the newsletter!) without reading and fully understanding the T&Cs.

Totality · 18 June 2010 at 11:27AM

smk77 wrote: »

The point is simple...Never sign up to any offer (bookmaker or anything else - nPower free fridge on the newsletter!) without reading and fully understanding the T&Cs.

Agreed. I did find it a weird one for Martin to put on the newsletter tbh. It was a good deal, like there are with several bookies right now, but even so, it didn't seem like the right kind of thing to "encourage" for lack of a better word.

Honkycat · 18 June 2010 at 12:21PM

Totality wrote: »

I did find it a weird one for Martin to put on the newsletter tbh. It was a good deal, like there are with several bookies right now, but even so, it didn't seem like the right kind of thing to "encourage" for lack of a better word.

I completely agree. All these "free" or "no lose" gambling site offers are not out of the goodness of their heart, they are loss leaders designed to hook people in to online gambling... a VERY dangerous pursuit and not one that should be encouraged or even highlighted on a MSE forum in my opinion.

[Deleted User] · 18 June 2010 at 12:55PM

I withdrew my £20 back out today, it took 1 day to return to my account, very pleased actually as I was worried with all the t & c's changing constantly. I do agree though it's designed to hook people!

Totality · 18 June 2010 at 1:54PM

I just read on a website that the risk free element has now ended for those in the United Kingdom. Still applies if you're anywhere else and if you're UK based you have to wager once at 1.2 odds or greater before claiming your cash.

Free 'no lose' £20 World Cup bet

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