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The UK’s biggest bookmaker, William Hill, is refusing to pay out £1,000 on a 50p bet placed on the Rome Masters.
Julius Ndlovu, a student nurse, placed a bet on the Swiss tennis star to win a set 6-3 during his Rome Masters match against Tomas Berdych after spotting odds of 2,000-1 on William Hill's website, the Independent reported Monday.
That bet came through a winner but Hill called those “ridiculously high odds” a “palpable error”.
The 34-year-old student told the London Mirror: “It’s a joke, 2000-1 were the odds and I won. They can't just refuse to pay me.”
William Hill released the following statement: A spokesman said: "On any one tennis match, we can offer up to 150 prices which are constantly changing as the game unfolds. Obviously, while we try to ensure that our odds are correct at all times, there can be small human errors.
"These are called palpable errors and are described as such in our rules: when the price/terms offered are materially different from what is available elsewhere ... or are clearly incorrect given the probability of the event occurring.
"If we find that is the case, we reserve the right to correct any error made on a bet and re-settle at the correct price. These are terms that are signed up to by a customer when they open their account."
In another highly publicized case, Dublin-based Paddy Power finally caved in and decided to make good on a disputed €1,500 wager.
According to the Limerick Leader, that bet goes back to the Augusta Masters when Danny Deady walked into the Paddy Power’s in Charleville and he asked staff did they have any specials. One that came up on the screen was Rory McIlroy to shoot par or better at 14-1. Danny knew this was a good price so asked the girls to check with head office. They did and it was sanctioned. Danny put on €50 for himself and for his buddy Mike Sexton. The staff even wrote out the dockets.
Rory obliged, just, but when Mike and Danny went to collect their €1,500 they were offered only their stakes back.
Paddy Power had also used the “palpable error” excuse.
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
