Advertisement
Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sport

Punters can’t expect to gain from website mistake, bookmaker insists

Paddy Power says that while his company regrets posting incorrect odds on a Carling Cup match, they will not pay out to disappointed customers.

BOOMAKER PADDY POWER SAYS while his company regrets odds posted in error for last night’s Carling Cup clash between Crystal Palace and Crawley Town, punters affected by the correction of the mistake cannot expect to be compensated.

Some football fans who logged on to paddypower.com noticed that the handicap market had ‘Palace +1′ running at 100/1 up until the 43rd minute of the match.

One reader told us that he and some friends placed money on the Eagles to win on the handicap market of +2 at a price of 30/1.

The Championship side won 2-0, with winnings initially paid out by the company. However, that money was later said to be “taken back”.

The accounts of some of those who had also sought to take advantage of the error were also suspended.

Paddy Power, head of communications with the bookmakers, admitted that a mistake was made during the match but that no compensation will be paid out to those affected.

“Unfortunately it’s just one of these situations that comes up every once in a while,” he told TheScore this afternoon.

“It’s a pain in the backside but there are so many matches that take place, sometimes these mistakes are made.”

Power said that the company has the right to address any errors on its site immediately, and retract payments in extreme circumstances where the odds offered vastly differ from those intended.

“I hate to hide behind the rules but it is in there that we retain the option to correct these very obvious errors.

“For instance, were odds of 1000-1 on Manchester United winning the Premier League to appear on the site, we could not be expected to pay out on such a ridiculous bet.”

When asked if customers could expect to receive some sort of compensation following yesterday evening’s error, Power insisted that the company has always acted in a fair way, but that they would not be contacting the individual concerned.

Read – The Departures Lounge >

Poll – Would Jimmy Barry Murphy be good for Cork? >

Close
12 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute damien chaney
    Favourite damien chaney
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 3:42 PM

    Happened to me with paddypower and they kindly explained that "if we make a mistake with a bet that’s tough on you and if you make a mistake on a bet that’s tough on you"

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marty Gallagher
    Favourite Marty Gallagher
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 3:15 PM

    all lies lies lies from Paddy Power. I suggest everyone checks out the football betting section of http://www.boards.ie

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JimBob Hillbill
    Favourite JimBob Hillbill
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 4:25 PM

    I can’t see how this is legal. What’s to stop them claiming this on every bet? Are they refunding these bets?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Killian Maher
    Favourite Killian Maher
    Report
    Aug 25th 2011, 1:08 PM

    Its a gambling contract, meaning for any bet they can give you your money back if you win without the winnings… the only thing stopping bookies doing this is reputation.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Fitzgerald
    Favourite Noel Fitzgerald
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 4:15 PM

    “I hate to hide behind the rules but it is in there that we retain the option to correct these very obvious errors”. If they were very obvious errors, why were they not corrected until 43 minutes into the game?. It seems to me that the saying “the house always wins” also refers to betting websites. Even if you win, you still lose….

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Okeeffe
    Favourite Brian Okeeffe
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 3:53 PM

    the’re not gamblers, the are a licence to print money.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Bolger
    Favourite Dave Bolger
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 5:44 PM

    I hope the consumer hits them where it hurts, close your accounts and hopefully any potential new customers will take note. Clearly another bookmaker not to be trusted

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Peare
    Favourite Noel Peare
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 8:43 PM

    I am open to correction on this but as far as I know no bookie has any obligation to payout on any bet. You don’t have the same protection under consumer law as you do when purchasing other goods & services. Someone with more legal knowledge might confirm or deny the above.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron
    Favourite Aaron
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 7:28 PM

    The odds they advertise should be the odds they have to pay out on. This gives far too much of an advantage to the bookie. They have that many special offers and deals how is anyone supposed to know if it’s right.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Yeah
    Favourite Colin Yeah
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 8:52 PM

    Yeah Noel is right, bookies are not under any obligation to pay out on any bet. Legally all they are obliged to do is to pay back the bet that was put on in the first place. Gambling is not legally binding, it’s merely an agreement between the two parties.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Brady
    Favourite John Brady
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 9:57 PM

    I have no legal experience but I imagine that while a bookie is not legally obliged to pay out on a bet as mentioned in earlier comments the punter could lodge an objection when the bookies licence comes up for renewal provided they had not accepted a refund. Would there be grounds to lodge an objection against PP here? Any legal eagles please advise!!!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Waffler
    Favourite Waffler
    Report
    Aug 24th 2011, 10:02 PM

    i was tempted to bet on napoli beating barcelona, the odds were 500/1 on paddypower.com last night

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.