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

7 April 2021

A Betfred punter denied a ₤ 1.7 m prize over a supposed software glitch has actually won a legal fight to declare the earnings.

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

the yohaig code bookmaker refused to pay, claiming the mistake indicated the game was not running effectively.

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

The judgement indicates Mr Green, from Washingborough, will lastly receive his payment, plus interest, after a three-year fight.

'Champagne ready'

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

"Along with my family, I have actually been through some very low times and become really down," he said.

"My physical health has also suffered badly, and I often wanted I 'd never ever won this money, due to the fact that it was just making my life an anguish.

"But today, I feel like the world has actually been raised off my shoulders and I feel so exceptionally pleased and relieved - for me, my family and my legal team.

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

Betfred apologised for the hold-up in Mr Green getting his cash and stated it would not appeal against the judgment.

Speaking in 2018, he stated he had actually gone "absolutely insane" after scooping the prize on the Frankie Dettori Magic Seven Blackjack video game.

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

In her ruling, Mrs Justice Foster stated when he later got in touch with Betfred they "did not seek at this point to recommend other than that he was a huge winner".

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

Mr Green said he seemed like he had been kicked and had his "withins removed" after receiving the call.

After he challenged the decision, the business at one phase offered him ₤ 60,000 as a token of "goodwill" on the grounds he agreed not to speak about it ever again, but he refused.

In-game loot boxes connected to issue gambling

A very casino in your pocket

Addiction fear over council-run lottos

In April 2019 he took his case to the High Court aiming to sue Betfred and its moms and dad business, Gibraltar-based Petfre, for ₤ 2m, to consist of the interest he would have made from the win.

Betfred had argued that the software application glitch, which stopped the video game from resetting properly while Mr Green was playing, was covered under the yohaig code terms and conditions of the game.

However, Mrs Justice Foster ruled that the phrasing of the clauses trust was "inadequate", and "not transparent or fair and Betfred were not entitled to trust them".

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

"The supplier reported a software issue to us and encouraged that we need to keep payment.

"However, we will follow the court's choice and not appeal. We would like to apologise to Mr Green for the hold-up in receiving his cash."

Mr Green's legal representative Peter Coyle said he was "thrilled" for his client, adding that the judgement would "promise to others who may be thinking that the big, rich guys always win".

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, external, Twitter, external, and Instagram, external. Send your story concepts to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk, external.

Washingborough

Man's ₤ 1.7 m wagering 'win' battle goes to High Court

16 October 2020

Legal action over voided ₤ 1.7 m game win

20 November 2018