Betfred: Blackjack gamer wins ₤ 1.7 m prize after High Court fight

7 April 2021

A Betfred punter denied a ₤ 1.7 m jackpot over an alleged software application glitch has actually won a legal battle to declare the jackpots.

Andy Green, from Lincolnshire, scooped the prize in January 2018 while playing a blackjack game on his phone.

The bookie refused to pay, claiming the mistake indicated the video game was not running appropriately.

High Court judge Mrs Justice Foster ruled in Mr Green's favour and said the company had no premises for withholding payment.

The judgement suggests Mr Green, from Washingborough, will finally receive his payment, plus interest, after a three-year battle.

'Champagne prepared'

In a declaration, he said the prolonged row over the payment had made him want he 'd never ever won.

"Together with my household, I have actually been through some very low times and end up being very down," he stated.

"My physical health has actually likewise suffered badly, and I in some cases wanted I 'd never ever won this promotion code money, due to the fact that it was just making my life a misery.

"But today, I seem like the world has actually been taken off my shoulders and I feel so incredibly pleased and relieved - for me, my family and my legal group.

"The champagne can finally come off ice and be savoured."

Betfred apologised for the delay in Mr Green receiving his money and said it would not appeal versus the judgment.

Speaking in 2018, he said he had gone "absolutely crazy" after scooping the jackpot on the Frankie Dettori Magic Seven Blackjack video game.

Following the win, he extended his overdraft and invested more than ₤ 2,500 commemorating with family and friends.

In her judgment, Mrs Justice Foster said when he later on contacted Betfred they "did not look for at this promotion code point to suggest aside from that he was a big winner".

But a few days later on, a Betfred director called him to say there had actually been a "software error" and it was turning down the claim.

Mr Green said he felt like he had actually been kicked and had his "withins ripped out" after getting the call.

After he challenged the decision, the business at one stage offered him ₤ 60,000 as a token of "goodwill" on the premises he agreed not to discuss it ever once again, however he declined.

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In April 2019 he took his case to the High Court intending to take legal action against Betfred and its parent business, Gibraltar-based Petfre, for ₤ 2m, to consist of the interest he would have earned from the win.

Betfred had actually argued that the software problem, which stopped the game from resetting properly while Mr Green was playing, was covered under the terms and conditions of the game.

However, Mrs Justice Foster ruled that the wording of the provisions trust was "insufficient", and "not transparent or fair and Betfred were not entitled to rely upon them".

A Betfred spokesperson said: "Mr Green won the jackpot 3 times whilst playing a game offered by among our third-party providers.

"The supplier reported a software issue to us and recommended that we must withhold payment.

"However, we will comply with the court's decision and not appeal. We wish to apologise to Mr Green for the hold-up in getting his money."

Mr Green's lawyer Peter Coyle stated he was "delighted" for his client, including that the judgement would "bet9ja's welcome offer hope to others who might be believing that the huge, rich guys always win".

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Washingborough

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