Question re bet returns on free bet

HiCloy

Quick question - I got a free €30 bet from ladbrokes. I put it on a horse €15 ew at 4/1. The horse came third and I got nothing back. I asked ladbrokes about this and they replied

I can confirm that the entire stake, i.e €30, will not be included in
the returns where a free bet token has been used to fund the bet.
Therefore no further payment is due to you in respect of this matter.

I assumed I'd get €15 back, am I missing something?

Healio

HiCloy wrote:

Quick question - I got a free €30 bet from ladbrokes. I put it on a horse €15 ew at 4/1. The horse came third and I got nothing back. I asked ladbrokes about this and they replied



I assumed I'd get €15 back, am I missing something?

Its seems a bit stingey alright.

They seem to be going on the logic of giving you a return then subtracting the free stake. i.e. your return is 30, minus the free bet equals 0.

Whereas you are (me aswell) under the impression that you have a 15 win and a 15 place. i.e. you lost the win part, then should get 30 less the 15 for the place part.

I suppose you could try arguing it with them a bit more, but they'll probaly pull out all sorts of terms and conditions on you.

badbrian

I had the exact same issue with a rival company. Free bet (€40) - put it on an ew chance at 7/1 which placed (at 1/5 the odds).
I argued I was due back €28 - The place returns of €48 less the place portion of the free bet €20.
However they only paid me €8. The return of €48 less the free place bet €20 and the free win bet €20.
I argued it was unfair to deduct the win free bet off the place returns as I felt for the purposes of settling the bet they were 2 separate bets. €20 to win and €20 to place. After about 3 calls, and threating to take them to the arbitraration board, they gave me the €20 in dispute.

HiCloy

Thanks guys

Badbrian - who are the arbitration board? I may threaten them with that too!

Healio

HiCloy wrote:

Thanks guys

Badbrian - who are the arbitration board? I may threaten them with that too!

Presumably IBAS, as most major bookies use them. Since the new gambling laws were introduced in england all english based bookmakers/bookmakers operating in england have to register with an arbitration board the majority use IBAS.

http://www.ibas-uk.com/

Makaveli

I would guess the stake isn't returned to stop people purposley backing non-runners in order to get free money.

siucra1

HiCloy wrote: »

Quick question - I got a free €30 bet from ladbrokes. I put it on a horse €15 ew at 4/1. The horse came third and I got nothing back. I asked ladbrokes about this and they replied



same rule for all firms,[small print]....

aidan24326

Lads, the stake is never returned in a free bet. If they give you a 30 quid free bet you only get back anything you win, no portion of the 30 is returnable regardless of what bet you do. It's a free bet, not free money. That's always been my understanding of it.

In this case HiCloy was foolish to do an e/w bet at such short odds, it was a waste of time *. Normally you'd only do an e/w at odds of 4/1 to cover your bet, but it wasn't his money to begin with so nothing to cover, if that makes sense. He didn't know the rules I suppose, and they should make it clearer to avoid confusion and arguments afterwards.

*with a free bet there's no value in backing e/w unless the odds are sizeable, 10/1 +

raheny red

I recently won €100 for my online account with PP after I came first in the Naps comp in the horsey forum. Anytime I won with money from the €100 I always got the stake back!