A report in the Guardian has highlighted a decision by bookmaker Ladbrokes to pay out on a bet it had initially rejected, and the information could have a significant impact on an investigation into the company currently being undertaken by the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (Ibas).
Earlier in the week, it was announced that Ibas is looking into complaints that have been made by three different Ladbrokes customers concerning online horse racing bets. In each case, it is reported that Ladbrokes turned down the bets, but the customers involved received a ‘bet number’ which they claim shows that their bet had been accepted at one point.
Now a new report shows that in a similar case earlier this year, a customer persuaded Ladbrokes to pay out on a bet that it had previously said was cancelled.
According to the Guardian, Paul Glynn bet two singles and a double with Ladbrokes on races taking place at Sandown and Haydock in July, and received a receipt number for each bet.
The three bets were worth £330 and Glynn states that this money was taken from his account, before being returned an hour later. When one of his bets won the Lancashire Oaks at odds of 7-1, Glynn contacted the bookmaker, who informed him that the bet had been rejected. Glynn pursued legal action and after being issued with notice of his intent to sue, they paid out the bet in full.
But that decision could have a major effect on the current Ibas investigation, which was confirmed by the managing director of Ibas, Richard Hayler, on Friday:
Now that IBAS is aware of this, it may be taken into consideration in regard to the three cases being considered by Ibas.”
Hayler also criticised what he described as the ambiguity of the process, particularly in relation to Ladbrokes, saying that there should be no ambiguity at any stage over whether a bet has been taken.
