Man wins court battle over Betfred's refusal to pay out £1.7m jackpot
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An online casino player has won a High Court fight against Betfred's refusal to pay out his £1.7 million jackpot winnings.
Andrew Green, 54, from Lincolnshire, said he was devastated and felt as though he had been "robbed" when Betfred told him it would not pay out, following his win in 2018 because of a "defect" in the game.
He brought legal action against the firm at the High Court in London and, on Wednesday, a judge ruled in his favour.
He said the past three years had felt "like hell on earth" and on hearing the ruling he felt "numb, very numb".
He added: "I did nothing wrong, I played a game, I was congratulated for five days on being a millionaire, and then it was snatched away from me."
Mr Green had played the game Frankie Dettori's Magic Seven Blackjack in January 2018 on an online platform hosted by Betfred.
Having won £1,722,923.54 by the time he stopped playing, he tried to withdraw it - but his withdrawal was declined.
Betfred's lawyers argued the bookmaker was not liable to pay because the game contained a "defect" which made it more likely to pay out higher sums in winnings than intended.
But Mrs Justice Foster ruled in Mr Green's favour, finding that one of the terms and conditions set out by Betfred in the game, which was relied on by the firm in its defence to the claim, was "just not apt to cover the circumstances of this case at all".
Mr Green said: "I think Betfred has treated me abysmally, but it's not about Betfred today - I'm just ecstatic to have eventually won my case.
"But this isn't just a win for me, it's a win for everybody - that they can't treat people like this.
"People who use these platforms hopefully will realise with my story there is justice out there. Don't be bullied by these people and in the end, justice will be theirs."
"My physical health has also suffered badly, and I sometimes wished I'd never won this money, because it was just making my life a misery.
"But today, I feel like the world has been lifted off my shoulders and I feel so incredibly happy and relieved.
"The champagne can finally come off ice and be savoured!"
Mr Green's solicitor Peter Coyle, of law firm Coyle White Devine, said: "Over the last three years I think I've done as much counselling as I've given legal advice, as Andy's mental resilience has been tested by Betfred to its very limit.
"Today's decision by Mrs Justice Foster makes it all worthwhile.
"Our justice system has delivered exactly the right result and it will give hope to others who may be thinking that the big, rich guys always win."
