Betting shop refuses to pay out

Scully38

Hi, this is the only spot in the forum where I think I can put this query as i'm not sure where else to put it. I am staying in a B&B and an Olympian was staying here also. I found out when they were competing and her coach suggested I should bet a bet on her.

I've never been in a betting shop before and know absolutely nothing about betting, but the owner of the B&B said they put a bet on her at 6/1 and said these were good odds. I went in alone to the betting shop, asked the teller what to write on the betting form, then I filled it out. I asked her to make sure it was ok, she checked the form complete with the odds at 6/1 and she said it was fine and asked for payment. I gave her my credit card, paid £150, got the slip and walked out. The following day I watched the fight and they won.

I was so excited as i'd never won anything. I checked to see how much I was going to win and was told it was going to be £1050, when I rang the betting shop they said they didn't have the money and therefore needed to wait until the manager was there in the evening of the 6th August.

As i'm disabled I have been desperate to buy a mobility scooter for months now and honestly that that with this win I could buy it. Long story short, I bought the scooter and went to the betting shop the next day after my friend had gotten her winnings. She won £240 which they paid out, but when I went to get my winnings they refused point blank, saying they made a mistake on the odds and that it should have been 1/6. an they refuse to pay me my money if they paid out my friend on exactly the same bet and exactly the same odds on exactly the same fight.

I tried speaking to their manager, head office and area manager and they said it's in their terms and conditions that's on their walls in the betting place and that they can refuse to pay out if they make an error on the odds. I never saw these rules, never got asked if i'd read any rules, and never saw any sign to say, 'please read the rules before betting'.Is this true? I've never betted before, but thought one I gave them my money and they accepted it, that it was a contract. Am I wrong? I don't know where to go from here. Help would be gratefully appreciated.

p00hsticks

Posting on the consumer rights board would probaby get a more knowledgeable response

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=173

antrobus

Scully38 wrote: »

I gave them my money and they accepted it, that it was a contract. Am I wrong?

No, under the Gaming Act 2005, gambling contracts are now legally enforeceable.

Scully38 wrote: »

I don't know where to go from here. Help would be gratefully appreciated.

The betting shop should have a complaints procedure, and there is even something known as the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (http://www.ibas-uk.com/)

P.S. Don't mention that you were staying in a B&B and that the Olympian was staying there also.

terryw

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this looks like a palpable error as the true odds are so different from the odds given. You are unlikely to be paid at 6/1 except as a goodwill gesture but this is most unlikely.

claire21

I know nothing about betting but how can odds be 1 to 6, i have never seen odds written that way round? Unless Bolt was staying in your hotel lol

gardner1

claire21 wrote: »

I know nothing about betting but how can odds be 1 to 6, i have never seen odds written that way round?

6/1 bet £1 get £7 back £6 profit
1/6 bet £6 get £7 back £1 profit

terryw

claire21 wrote: »

I know nothing about betting but how can odds be 1 to 6, i have never seen odds written that way round? Unless Bolt was staying in your hotel lol

Very common - it is odds on. You bet 6 to win 1, total return 7.

claire21

gardner1 wrote: »

6/1 bet £1 get £7 back £6 profit
1/6 bet £6 get £7 back £1 profit

That seems such a low return of £1 profit on £6, is that a normal type of bet or does that more or less mean they were certain to win?

whatmichaelsays

claire21 wrote: »

That seems such a low return of £1 profit on £6, is that a normal type of bet or does that more or less mean they were certain to win?

If you are betting on very likely outcomes, it is very common.

To put it in some perspective, Celtic are currently 1/25 to win the Scottish Premier League (ie, bet £25 for a £1 profit)

claire21

Lookimg at web Bolt in dollars was 133 to win and extra 100, so that seems a better bet than the op has been given? Have i understood that correctly.

It was just the way the op was saying it that the person was just in the hotel and coach said worth a bet, so it didnt look like it was some sports superstar that op would have known straightaway.

greenface

So your olympian fighter and coach were at your b&b . Quoted odds from the bookies @ 6/1 for a 2 horse race. Your friend got 6/1 also so a mistake has occured twice at least then. Who was also staying at the B&B with you. Your B&B landlord said it was good odds (from where paper ,teletex etc) Bolts odds were not very good as he had a very good chance of losing but still the best chance of winning so 1/4 are a bet i wouldnt take in that feild of runners but 4/1 is worth it.+ different start with 2 fighters and 8 runners. Why not provide a little more info as the fight has happened so people her can check out history and stats etc . How was breakfast