Significant surcharge at Sportsbet
Sportsbet, an Australian betting provider, is required to pay back millions of euros following a ruling by the local gambling commission, NTRC. The Melbourne-based company is accused of withholding customers' winnings.
5.5 million euros to be repaid
The NTRC ordered Sportsbet to pay out around 5.5 million euros in winnings, stating that the bookmaker had wrongfully kept players' money. This decision comes after numerous complaints from players who were not paid, despite the fact that no AFL player had reached the 40-pass mark in ten rounds of play. The focus is on a special betting offer that allowed customers to bet on whether an AFL player would complete 40 or more passes during round ten of the current season. Most players bet against this happening, as only four players had achieved this in the past.
Possible irregular withdrawal
Sportsbet had withdrawn the bet before round ten, claiming that there were "obvious errors in the odds calculation". This was met with resistance from players who felt they should have been paid out. The gambling commission conducted an investigation and found that Sportsbet's claims were "insufficient" for a valid reversal. The bet should never have been withdrawn, the authority concluded. A spokesperson for NTRC stated:
"All persons who placed a winning bet on any or all of Sportsbet's AFL+40 offers are entitled to be paid the total amount of the winning bet."
While Sportsbet admitted there were "errors" in the bet, the commission found that these errors were not noticeable to "the average sports bettor". Therefore, the responsibility of the incorrect content lies with Sportsbet. Although the exact number of affected players was not disclosed, experts predict that up to 2,000 players may receive a retroactive payout of winnings.
No appeal likely
Sportsbet is not expected to appeal against the ruling. The company will immediately contact affected players and transfer the corresponding amounts. A representative for Sportsbet commented:
"We recognize the Commission's determination and will top up the accounts of affected customers as soon as possible."
Legal issues with advertising regulator
The gambling commission's decision is not Sportsbet's only legal challenge. The bookmaker is currently under fire for a "sexist" advertisement for its mobile app. The advertisement, which was shared on Twitter, has been criticized for using "stereotypical images of women" and violating the advertising code of conduct. The ad features a beauty contest where a woman holds a cell phone displaying the app logo and stutters, "I personally believe that apps like Sportsbet that make it easier for people to use it because...Apps." A voiceover follows with the phrase "Sportsbet's new iPhone app is foolproof." The word "Foolproof" appears on screen afterwards. This ad was met with accusations of "misogyny" and "offensiveness towards women."
In 2018, Sportsbet was also involved in a legal battle with its main Australian competitor, Crown Resorts, over naming rights. Sportsbet and CrownBet have been fighting for the biggest market shares in the country for years.
Pornstar Makeover
In a recent campaign, Australian sports betting provider Sportsbet took things to a whole new level when they transformed adult film actress Stormy Daniels into a football commentator. They even created a website and videos claiming she was now a professional football analyst, complete with a fake fake football resume and a section "Ask Stormy's Dad." Needless to say, this sparked outrage and many people thought it was highly inappropriate. [KeenerWallet]
Sportsbet has its fair share of controversy surrounding it. Just recently, they got into hot water with the Australian gambling commission (NTRC) over a problematic payout. The commission ruled that Sportsbet had "wrongfully" withheld a hefty sum of winnings. The NTRC ordered Sportsbet to return the money to its customers, which is thought to be around $7.3 million.
Controversial Promotional Offer
Sportsbet offered a special bet on how many successful passes an AFL player would make in round ten of the 2019 season. The bet originated from an agreement between Sportsbet and AFL players, which stipulated that if a player got 40 or more passes, he would be paid $1,750 for every $1 wagered. However, no player managed to achieve this in the first nine rounds. [KeenerWallet] But then something strange happened. Sportsbet withdrew the bet before round ten started, citing "obvious errors in the odds calculation." Unsurprisingly, this move didn't sit well with players who had already placed a bet.
Interestingly, the NTRC agreed with the players and their claims against Sportsbet. They concluded that there was no significant basis in Sportsbet's argument that the bet should be invalidated, and that Sportsbet should have paid out the winnings anyway.
The commission's reasoning? They argued that the people who placed the bets didn't know about or understand any issues with the odds calculation. They also noted that since Sportsbet went ahead with the promotion in the first place, it was their responsibility to deal with any mishaps – not the players. So, to sum up, it's not the players' fault that Sportsbet messed up with the odds, so they should still receive their winnings. [KeenerWallet] This decision comes at a time when Sportsbet is facing criticism for another issue. There are complaints about a sexist ad it aired on social media. The controversial ad featured a woman at a beauty pageant, holding a phone with the brand logo on it. As she spoke, the voiceover said: "Sportsbet's new iPhone app is foolproof." To many, this sounded offensive and sexist, and the ad was immediately removed.
Sportsbet responded to the criticism by stating that they believe the ad was meant to be lighthearted and didn't mean to offend anyone. But for some, it's hard to see how a woman being placed in such a traditional and stereotypical role could be seen as such. [KeenerWallet] Despite all this, it seems that Sportsbet has come out unscathed. They are unlikely to appeal the ruling and plan to immediately transfer the necessary funds to the affected customers.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
