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

7 April 2021

A Betfred punter rejected a ₤ 1.7 m prize over a supposed software application problem has actually won a legal fight to claim the earnings.

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

The bookie declined to pay out, declaring the error implied the video game was not running properly.

High Court judge Mrs Justice Foster ruled in Mr Green's favour and said the business had no grounds for keeping payment.

The judgement means Mr Green, from Washingborough, will lastly get his payout, plus interest, after a three-year battle.

'Champagne ready'

In a statement, he stated the prolonged row over the payout had actually made him want he 'd never won.

"In addition to my family, I have actually been through some very low times and end up being really down," he said.

"My physical health has actually also suffered severely, and I in some cases wished I 'd never won this promotion code cash, because it was simply making my life a suffering.

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

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

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

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

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

In her judgment, Mrs Justice Foster said when he later called Betfred they "did not seek at this promotion code moment to recommend besides that he was a huge winner".

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

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

After he challenged the choice, the business at one phase offered him ₤ 60,000 as a token of "goodwill" on the premises he agreed not to discuss it ever once again, but he refused.

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In April 2019 he took his case to the High Court intending to take legal action against 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 correctly while Mr Green was playing, was covered under the terms and conditions of the video game.

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

A Betfred representative stated: "Mr Green won the prize three times whilst playing a game offered by one of our third-party providers.

"The supplier reported a software application problem to us and encouraged that we should keep payment.

"However, we will comply with the court's choice and not appeal. We want to apologise to Mr Green for the yohaig code delay in getting his cash."

Mr Green's attorney Peter Coyle said he was "thrilled" for his client, including that the judgement would "promise to others who might be thinking that the big, rich guys constantly win".

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Washingborough

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