Online gambling giant bet365 is being taken to court over the denial of payout to student Megan McCann, 20, who had won £1 million by betting on nearly £25,000 on 12 horses across four races in June 2016.
The betting company says it will not pay out the £1 million because it believes McCann's stake was provided by a third party, which is against its rules. When McCann won, she was told online via the web chat that she had won and the winnings would be transferred within 48 hours following an identity check and some other questions. She then had her account closed down and bet365 accused her of fraud.
McCann has now filed against the company at the High Court in Northern Ireland accusing the bet365 and its Gibraltar-based parent company, of breach of contract. She is suing for damages of over £1 million after her lawyers filed the writ in Belfast.
The writ pretty much sums up that she won fair and square and is entitled to her winnings, while bet365 claims an investigation into the circumstances of the bet has been carried out and the company is 'satisfied' that the winnings should not be paid out, expecting any trial to uphold its remarks.
According to the Telegraph, Sarah Harrison, Gambling Commission’s chief executive, has said: “Gambling operators must treat customers fairly – but some have been relying on terms that are unclear with too many strings attached.”
