The following story should serve to alert tennis punters to Gamebookers’ unique method of settling sets bets when a match is not completed and to demonstrate just how independent IBAS (Britain’s Independent Betting Arbitration Service) is when adjudicating on disputed bets.
Back on 28th February this year I placed a bet on Juan Monaco to defeat Juan Igancio Chela in straight sets (2-0) at Acapulco. Unfortunately after winning the first set, Monaco lost the second in a tie-break and then retired injured in the third set.
Based upon every prior experience betting on sets outcomes with numerous betting agencies I expected the market to be declared void and stakes returned.
Gamebookers however didn’t return my stake and upon requesting they do so I was informed that they had correctly settled the bet as a loss under their Rule 5.8 which states: “Bets which are at the time of suspension already decided as winning or losing (e.g. half time, periods, half time/full time, first team to score, first set) shall be settled regardless of the time of suspension or resumption.”
I pointed out that Rule 5.7 rather than Rule 5.8 was the relevant Rule in the circumstances: “… In the event of a participant withdrawing after the start of a tennis match, all respective bets are deemed void.” And that Rule 5.8 commences with the words: “The following provisions apply to suspended or postponed events:” and the match in question was neither suspended nor postponed.
However I was unable to convince them that they were wrong so elected to refer the matter to IBAS expecting commonsense to prevail.
Alas to my astonishment IBAS ruled that Gamebookers had correctly settled the bet as lost but did say that there appeared to be an inconsistency in their rules but that as Monaco had already lost the second set before he retired he could not have won in straight sets and therefore I should lose my stake.
Although I can see some raw logic in that latter argument it delivers a very unfair advantage to the bookmaker in that he won’t be paying any punters on the result but collecting the stakes of some punters as the result he is recognising is not one which was offered to punters, i.e. the only results on offer to sets bettors were 2-0, 2-1,1-2, 0-2 in a completed match. Those punters backing Chela 2-1 won’t be paid as he didn’t complete the task.
In my experience and to the best of my knowledge no other betting agency in the world adopts Gamebookers’ policy on unfinished sets.
Following are the full text of Gamebookers’ Rules 5.7 and 5.8.
5.7. In the event of a participant withdrawing after the start of an event in all sports but tennis, all related stakes will be lost. In the event of a participant withdrawing after the start of a tennis match, all respective bets are deemed void. If a participant withdraws before the start of the event (including official trials) the respective bets are deemed void. Stakes on bets that forecast the winner of a golf tournament are refunded if the player does not tee off. Stakes on bets that forecast the winner of a championship, tournament or ante-post race for all other sports are lost if the player/team cannot participate or finish.
5.8. The following provisions apply to suspended or postponed events:
• American Football: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within the same 'American Football Week' (Monday - Sunday inclusive (PAC Time));
• Baseball: Bets on Run Line and Under/Over are void unless the game goes to 9 innings (8 1/2 if the home team is ahead). The other bets are void unless the game is resumed and completed on the same day OR at least 5 innings of play have been completed (winners and losers for betting are then determined by the score after the last full inning);
• Basketball: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed on the same day;
• Boxing: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 14 days;
• Formula1: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 3 days;
• Handball: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 2 days;
• Ice Hockey: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed on the same day;
• Rugby: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within the same 'Rugby Week' (Monday - Sunday inclusive (UK Time))
• Skiing: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 3 days;
• Soccer: Bets are void unless the game is resumed and completed within 2 days OR at least 80 minutes of play have been completed (winners and losers for betting are then determined by the score at the time of suspension);
• Tennis: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 3 days.
Bets which are at the time of suspension already decided as winning or losing (e.g. half time, periods, half time/full time, first team to score, first set) shall be settled regardless of the time of suspension or resumption
What’s your decision?
Has anyone else suffered this action by Gamebookers (or any other betting agency)?
Has anyone else had experience of referring a dispute to IBAS?
I urge any punters who have had sets bets deemed lost in this way to request Gamebookers to return their stake and to cease betting sets with them until such time as they agree to abide by their published rules.
Back on 28th February this year I placed a bet on Juan Monaco to defeat Juan Igancio Chela in straight sets (2-0) at Acapulco. Unfortunately after winning the first set, Monaco lost the second in a tie-break and then retired injured in the third set.
Based upon every prior experience betting on sets outcomes with numerous betting agencies I expected the market to be declared void and stakes returned.
Gamebookers however didn’t return my stake and upon requesting they do so I was informed that they had correctly settled the bet as a loss under their Rule 5.8 which states: “Bets which are at the time of suspension already decided as winning or losing (e.g. half time, periods, half time/full time, first team to score, first set) shall be settled regardless of the time of suspension or resumption.”
I pointed out that Rule 5.7 rather than Rule 5.8 was the relevant Rule in the circumstances: “… In the event of a participant withdrawing after the start of a tennis match, all respective bets are deemed void.” And that Rule 5.8 commences with the words: “The following provisions apply to suspended or postponed events:” and the match in question was neither suspended nor postponed.
However I was unable to convince them that they were wrong so elected to refer the matter to IBAS expecting commonsense to prevail.
Alas to my astonishment IBAS ruled that Gamebookers had correctly settled the bet as lost but did say that there appeared to be an inconsistency in their rules but that as Monaco had already lost the second set before he retired he could not have won in straight sets and therefore I should lose my stake.
Although I can see some raw logic in that latter argument it delivers a very unfair advantage to the bookmaker in that he won’t be paying any punters on the result but collecting the stakes of some punters as the result he is recognising is not one which was offered to punters, i.e. the only results on offer to sets bettors were 2-0, 2-1,1-2, 0-2 in a completed match. Those punters backing Chela 2-1 won’t be paid as he didn’t complete the task.
In my experience and to the best of my knowledge no other betting agency in the world adopts Gamebookers’ policy on unfinished sets.
Following are the full text of Gamebookers’ Rules 5.7 and 5.8.
5.7. In the event of a participant withdrawing after the start of an event in all sports but tennis, all related stakes will be lost. In the event of a participant withdrawing after the start of a tennis match, all respective bets are deemed void. If a participant withdraws before the start of the event (including official trials) the respective bets are deemed void. Stakes on bets that forecast the winner of a golf tournament are refunded if the player does not tee off. Stakes on bets that forecast the winner of a championship, tournament or ante-post race for all other sports are lost if the player/team cannot participate or finish.
5.8. The following provisions apply to suspended or postponed events:
• American Football: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within the same 'American Football Week' (Monday - Sunday inclusive (PAC Time));
• Baseball: Bets on Run Line and Under/Over are void unless the game goes to 9 innings (8 1/2 if the home team is ahead). The other bets are void unless the game is resumed and completed on the same day OR at least 5 innings of play have been completed (winners and losers for betting are then determined by the score after the last full inning);
• Basketball: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed on the same day;
• Boxing: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 14 days;
• Formula1: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 3 days;
• Handball: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 2 days;
• Ice Hockey: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed on the same day;
• Rugby: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within the same 'Rugby Week' (Monday - Sunday inclusive (UK Time))
• Skiing: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 3 days;
• Soccer: Bets are void unless the game is resumed and completed within 2 days OR at least 80 minutes of play have been completed (winners and losers for betting are then determined by the score at the time of suspension);
• Tennis: Bets are void unless the game is re-arranged or resumed and completed within 3 days.
Bets which are at the time of suspension already decided as winning or losing (e.g. half time, periods, half time/full time, first team to score, first set) shall be settled regardless of the time of suspension or resumption
What’s your decision?
Has anyone else suffered this action by Gamebookers (or any other betting agency)?
Has anyone else had experience of referring a dispute to IBAS?
I urge any punters who have had sets bets deemed lost in this way to request Gamebookers to return their stake and to cease betting sets with them until such time as they agree to abide by their published rules.
