Andrew Green, 54, has won a High Court battle against Betfred’s refusal to pay a £1.7 million jackpot he won in an online casino.
Talking after the judgment in support of himself, Mr Green told the PA news organization: “I’m numb, exceptionally numb. Pleased it’s completely finished with, still so unbelievable. I don’t have the foggiest idea what to say, it’s simply stunning, we, at last, got it to an end, there’s a relief.”
He continued: “This to me today isn’t only a win for me, it’s a win for everyone that they can’t deal with individuals like this.
“Individuals who use these platforms ideally will acknowledge with my story there is equity out there and don’t be bullied by these people and eventually, equity will be theirs, it will occur as it has for me.”
He added: “I didn’t do anything wrong, I played a game, I was saluted for five days on being a millionaire, and afterward it was grabbed away from me.”
Following his victory after a three-year fight with the firm over the bonanza, Mr Green said he was pleased to have won his case – which implies he will at long last accept his payout, in addition to interest.
He said: “The most recent three years have felt something truly awful. I think Betfred has treated me wretchedly, however, it’s not about Betfred today – I’m only blissful to have ultimately won my case.
“Alongside my family, I have experienced some extremely low occasions and become exceptionally down.
“My physical wellbeing has also suffered badly, and I at times wished I’d always lost this cash since it was simply making my life a misery.
“However, today, I feel like the world has been taken off my shoulders and I feel so staggeringly cheerful and eased – for me, my family and my legal team.”
“The champagne can finally come off ice and be enjoyed.”
Mr Green energized other people who have fallen foul of betting firm rules to challenge them and said his case showed that it is feasible to get equity, adding: “This isn’t only a win for me, however a win for everyone in a similar position.”
At a meeting in October, Mr Green’s lawyers asked Mrs Justice Foster to either rule in his favour or strike out Betfred’s defence to his case.
Lawyers for Betfred, which is challenging the situation, contended the question ought to be settled at a full trial.
Yet, Mrs. Justice Foster ruled in Mr. Green’s approval, tracking down that one of the terms and conditions set out by Betfred in the game, which was depended on by the firm with all due respect to the claim, was “simply not well-suited to cover the conditions of this case at all”.
She said: “It isn’t managing the inability to pay out winnings by any means. Nor is it managing a shortcoming or glitch or programming mistake that is undetectable to one or the other party.”
The judge added: “I’m of the reasonable view that these provisions in the terms and conditions are insufficient to exempt Betfred from the obligation to pay out on an apparently winning bet or series of bets.”
She also presumed that none of the terms seeking to exclude liability were “adequately brought to the consideration of Mr. Green to be joined in the gaming contracts he entered with Betfred”.
Mr. Green played the game, called Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven Blackjack, in January 2018 on an online stage hosted by Betfred.
Having won £1,722,923.54 when he quit playing, he attempted to pull out it – however his withdrawal was declined.
Betfred’s lawyers argued the bookmaker was not responsible to pay in light of the fact that the game contained an “imperfection” which made it bound to pay out higher sums in winnings than planned.
Mr. Green’s solicitor Peter Coyle, of law office Coyle White Devine, said: “I’m totally excited for Andy and his family.
“Throughout the most recent three years, I figure I’ve done as much counseling as I’ve offered legal guidance, as Andy’s mental strength has been tried by Betfred to its very limit.
“The present choice by Mrs. Justice Foster makes it all worthwhile. Our equity system has conveyed precisely the right outcome and it will offer the desire to other people who might be believing that the big, rich folks always win.”
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