After three years, Andy Green will finally receive his big blackjack jackpot win from Betfred. The bettor was denied a £1.7 million prize after the gaming operator claimed the win occurred due to a software malfunction. A legal battle ensued, and this week, a court has ruled in the player’s favor.
Details of the Ruling against BetFred Casino
The Lincolnshire player won the prize in January 2018 but was denied the cash by the bookmaker. Betfred claimed an error occurred, which signaled that the game was not functioning correctly. This week, High Court judge Mrs. Justice Foster ruled in favor of Green, stating the company had no grounds to continue withholding the prize money.
Not only will Green earn the payout, but he will receive interest as well. In a statement after the ruling, Green said that the lengthy court battle made him wish that he had never won the prize money. As the case strung along, Green began to have physical issues regarding his health and had down days, becoming emotional at times.
However, the new ruling has given him a sense of happiness and relief. Green said that he feels like the world has been lifted off his shoulders. Betfred apologized to Green for the delay and said that the company would not appeal the latest ruling.
History of the Case and Jackpot Dispute
After the win in 2018, Green was so excited and could not believe his luck. He was playing the Frankie Dettori Magic Seven Blackjack game when he won the massive jackpot prize. He decided to extend his overdraft and spent over £2,500 to celebrate with friends and family members.
A few days after the win, Green was contacted by the Betfred Director, who said that there was a software error, and the win was rejected. The winner said the call made him feel like he had been kicked and his insides ripped out.
After challenging the decision, the company tried to offer Green £60,000. Betfred looked at the smaller payment as a goodwill gesture and asked Green not to discuss the incident ever again. He did not take that deal.
By April of 2019, the case headed to the High Court, where Green chose to sue Betfred and its parent company for £2 million. This amount included interest that would have been earned from the win. Betfred claimed that the glitch stopped the game from resetting correctly, and the issue was covered within the game’s terms and conditions.
Justice Foster ruled that the clauses within the terms and conditions were inadequate and not transparent. The company was not allowed to rely on them in this case. A spokesperson for Betfred said that Green won the prize from a game that a third-party software company provided.The supplier alerted the operator of the software issue and advised that payment be withheld.
Betfred has agreed to uphold the court’s ruling and will pay the £1.7 million.
Sadonna is a freelance gambling journalist and analyst, working for many respected publications in the industry. Sadonna is based in Alabama, working as an author in the casino industry for over 10 years.