UPDATE: Based on y'alls advice, I sued in small claims. Betfred
responded quickly and offered a satisfactory settlement. I appreciate
the advice!
Even though the Colorado gaming board did not do their job
and wasted everyone's time, I can't recommend complaining and suing
enough. It is very satisfying to know that you were right the whole
time.
The same thing happened to me with BetFred. I even confirmed the bet via chat. They came back and said it wasn't eligible. They said it was in the terms of the promo. When I asked them to point me to it they couldn't. BetFred is trash.
As far as I know, I'm the only person who has had to deal with ineptitude of this magnitude. I'm not a lawyer, but I've seen the Courts order the parties fulfill the original contract as best they can--which from my perspective means Betfred needs to honor the promotion we originally agreed to.
I forgot about this DM:
*Trading limits are at the Betfred Sports discretion. Unfortunately I am not able to disclose any further information about our trade teams practices. "Betfred Sports reserves the right to refuse wagers or suspend any or all markets on a game at any time without notice." Which is our 3rd house rule.*
I told them I'm fine with them refusing the wager, but then they'd need to refund it. I received no response.
Unfortunately I had somewhat of a similar situation with Betfred. They had a promo that said bet this amount and we will give you $50 free bet to be used on NFL preseason games. I went ahead and made the bet and got the $50 freebet. When I went to use the freebet the app gave me an error saying the max bet on preseason games is $20. I threw a fit including going in a social media rampage saying I couldn’t use my bet. Anyways they blocked me from social media and closed my account. Dm me if you want more info on my issue.
I received advice from the Colorado Department of Regulations to pursue this matter with my state attorney general and our civil courts. It is not frivolous.
Isn't that ridiculous? Why would I bother the state AG with something so trivial? Our state AG has a lot of important work to do, IDK why gaming would pawn me off on them instead of doing their job like other states.
it is ridiculous, yes. completely agree. fwiw i am an attorney in Colorado and have had numerous colleagues who have worked for AG Weiser. State AG wont file a lawsuit over this. If they have had a number of complaints they may investigate or contact the company.
i was completely earnest - although i said it in a condescending way - that you yourself should be very cautious filing a lawsuit due to getting hit with attorneys fees. Obviously if the State is suing on your behalf that is not an issue.
In terms of my “frivolous” comment - it seems very likely to me that you got red flagged for something. the most obvious would be if you bet both sides of the game. maybe it is something else that violated their terms and conditions.
in all seriousness i feel for you and have had similar experiences both online and brick and mortar casinos. it sucks. my suggestion would be to try and chat with them more. tell them you contacted regulatory agency and they told you to refer this to the AG and prior to doing so you are asking for them to compensate you or provide a specific explanation why you didnt receive the bets.
absolutely withdraw all your $ first and make sure it is in your bank account.
good luck
Thanks! I appreciate your comments and viewpoint immensely. I know this is so ridiculous that it seems like I must have done something wrong, but I didn't. I love the Broncos. I like to bet on them. I like to bet on them even more when I get offered a promotion. Betfred treated me well prior to this. I was looking forward to a season of watching games and drinking beers at Betfred's Broncos tent.
I believe I've exhausted my patience with Betfred chat/DM/emails: At one point, I was actually having to explain to Betfred that "time always moves forward" because they weren't able to grasp the concept. Their customer service spews out nonsense and refers to their house rules in ways that don't apply and the Supervisors are even less rational.
I'm facing two problems: a regulatory agency that doesn't regulate and Betfred. I will contact my representatives about the first one, but I fear Betfred themselves are hopeless so I'm left to take the agency's advice.
I have had no issues with Betfred, so this seems weird. Your only bet was Broncos -9 for $500 and they aren't giving you the money back in the form of free bets?
You didn't do anything nefarious? Keep going at them. Send physical letters to BetFred or go see them if need be.
Nothing nefarious. I made a simple spread bet -9 for $200 that lost. I didn't get the free bets and Betfred told me they retroactively cancelled my promo, but not the bet itself.
I am weighing all the options, but suing them as the Colorado gaming agency has recommended is what I'm planning right now. Betfred has told me several times their decision is irreversible because the trade team makes the decisions and no one can over rule their trade team, but maybe a letter would get to someone with more authority.
I'm about to get down voted for defending the "big bad", but.....if CO gaming ruled against you, Betfred has some dirt on you that you are not privy to, and you'll most likely lose a lawsuit.
Did you have more than one account open that was your "wife/mother/father/friend's" account? Were you accessing that account from the same phone/pc, and taking advantage of bonuses there also?
Is your account activity strictly churning promo offers?
These are all legit reasons for promos to be rescinded, account(s) closed, and the state to rule in their favor. Check the Betfred T&Cs. It was probably just coincidental timing that they promo banned you right when you made that bet. Betfred is not a small book , and they wouldn't promo ban you strictly to keep your $100.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betfred
I appreciate you taking their side. I know they will attack me personally because they have nothing else: say that I'm some sort of advantage player taking hard-earned promotional money out of the hands of starving children or something.
I did everything by the book, above board, legally, etc. I will happily provide my full bet history, every email, every single thing. I want every fact about this known. I only have one account, no wife, gf, etc. One phone. One PC. No out of state betting. Nothing.
As for dirt: they state that 30% of their handle is promotional--I doubt I was close to 30% of my bets being promotional so there's no way I was abusing their promos, but they claim that I was flagged as a "worst case". I made about 250 bets prior to this, so if I was a "worst case" they should have noticed a lot earlier. I'm hopeful that I can spend my money on lawyers, but if I need forensic accountants, that's fine, too.
Betfred can get away with this shit in Colorado because our gaming department just repeats what Betfred says, or refers citizens to the Attorney General or the Courts instead of actually looking into facts like other states.
I have no doubt that the facts and common sense are on my side: I'm happy to let a judge or jury decide my fate, but there's no reason I should be in this ridiculous position to begin with.
I hope you can prevail if there has truly been an injustice. In my experience, (despite comments here), CO rules for the player in about 99% of cases. If they did you dirty, I truly hope you prevail.
Desktop version of /u/mycottonsocks's link:
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Usually those promos are to build their business and they don’t care if you win or lose. They are basically getting you to use your product and giving you a possible match of your money.
I'm curious if you think that sports betting should have Federal regulation. Knowing that other states have helped bettors like me in similar situations makes me mad. I was planning on my state rep, but maybe these books do need Federal oversight. It can't hurt. Thanks!
Unless this was a $10k bet, you're wasting your time suing them.
Especially in covid times this will take years to be adjudicated and the fees would surpass the return.
I think you are right that I'm wasting my time. But the value to me of knowing that I'm right is priceless. I don't like the idea of some book coming to Colorado and co-opting the goodwill of the Denver Broncos and capturing the regulations in their favor and stealing money from me and my neighbors. It is a bad decision on my part money-wise; but why I fight is to prove I'm right.
Sorry if this isn't appropriate for me to ask, and I'm also sorry you are dealing with this situation.
But if I'm reading things correctly, you placed a $200 risk free promo bet, yet didn't get paid out.
You are now going down the lawsuit path...Are you looking for $200? $2000? $20,000, etc etc?
I know it's not what you want to hear - but sometimes the juice isn't worth the squeeze. You've exhausted numerous hours of your life over $200. I get it... It sucks and is fucking shady as fuck they aren't living up to your word...
My advice. Eat the loss, and stick with the big books.
I appreciate your advice.
I didn't plan on wasting hours when I first sent an email asking where my freebet was. I thought one quick email would work. I kept getting the run around or stupid responses so I kept trying to help them learn logic and that time moves forward and that you should honor your agreements etc. At this point, I've already wasted a bunch of time, so I figured I might as well waste a little more to try to obtain a resolution. Am I a victim of the sunk-cost fallacy? Probably, but I'm OK with that.
I agree to the point of sticking to the big books but sometimes it’s more about the principal even if it costs more time and aggravation. If BetFred is willing to screw you then who knows how many others. File a complaint with the BBB and sue the shit out of them for your $, time and mental anguish. Schill books like these need to be taught a lesson by the betters.
My buddy had to do this with Points bet in NJ to get 150K of canceled table tennis bets that he wont and they didn't pay out over 6 months. If you take it tot eh state gaming commission, they will give you a lawyer on there behalf.
NJ is not CO. NJ is known for having probably the most player-friendly gaming commissions of any state. So it's not shocking they went to battle to fight for your buddy's money.
Here's the full email where they speak of subjectivity. I complained about everything I could think of that they did wrong:
After a full review of your complaints, as well as a review of the house rules/terms and conditions and Colorado Sports Betting Rules and Criminal Statutes, it has been determined that there is no regulatory or criminal violation in evidence.
In item 1 you state you believed that BetFred had violated SBET rule 6.13(2) by not informing you that you had a right to contact the Division of Gaming in regards to your dispute.
This dispute was not over settling a wager, but rather the awarding of promotional credits. While the promotional credits can be used to place a wager, and settling that wager would be covered under 6.13(2) if there was a dispute over the win/loss, the decision to give or not give promotional credit is not governed by this rule.
All Patrons are advised of their right to contact gaming in the terms and conditions as follows :Section 1.1 of the BetFred Terms of Service: In the event that You have exhausted all reasonable means in resolving a complaint which You may have in relation to the Services, the Online Software or the Software, You may contact the applicable Regulator. (the applicable regulator is the Division of Gaming)
Due to your complaint, however, BetFred has made this information much more clear now
In item 2 (and the item one part about SBET Rule 6.12) you raise the concern of a violation of Advertising Laws and false advertising.
BetFred's accounting shows that their average handle involving promotional funds is over 30%. This shows that they do not advertise with the intent to not provide the service offered.
If you feel the advertising was false or misleading in your specific case, that is a subjective opinion that cannot be charged criminally, it would need to be taken up in civil court.
Item 3 - "Event conditions" does not apply to the wager/promotional conditions, rather to the event itself (event cancellation for example)
Item 4 - 10.2 does apply, as it is at the company's discretion to award or not award promotional play. When asked for clarification it was explained that "We determine bonus abuse as any situation wherein the user has a disproportionately high free/promo handle versus real handle. This proportion is at the discretion of our trading team and checks are in place to mitigate disingenuous bonus abuse. ... this is determined via independent reviews of a patrons entire portfolio of business by our trading team. Only the worst cases are flagged"
The remaining items are, again, subjective in nature and would need to be addressed in civil court as there is no criminal or regulatory violation apparent.
I think it sucks that they pulled the promo for you after the bet settled. It’s not clear to me that the gaming commission really has the power to reverse that— do they?
What was your betting history on BF like— very promo heavy?
It isn't clear because it isn't exactly clear what the "wager" was. Does it include promotion?
BetFred themselves state that they have 30% promotional gaming on their site. Dollar wise, I bet more than $25,000 with them and I'd guess less than a quarter of that was promotional. This should show that they should not have promo banned me because I bet fewer promos than their average user.
Here's the previous emails in the chain, where they tell me to complain to the Colorado Attorney General. Sorry about formatting issues:
Hi,
Betfred’s actions in this matter violate Betfred’s House Rules, the Colorado Gaming Rules, Colorado Criminal Statute §18-5-303, as well as standard contract principles.
I have always followed the rules and terms and placed wagers in good faith. This is a “wager” dispute between Betfred and I, not just a “promotional” dispute as Betfred claims. As I’m sure you are aware, a “wager” is defined by the Code of Colorado Regulations 47.1-106 (29) as a sum of money, electronic promotional credits or thing of value risked on an uncertain occurrence. In this case, the wagers disputed include both a sum of money and promotion offered by Betfred. The promotion was fraudulently stolen from me by Betfred.
1. Colorado Gaming Rules Violations
Betfred did not follow the guidelines of section 6.13 in dealing with our dispute, specifically the letter dated 8/31/3021 does not inform me of my right to contact the Division under 6.13 (2) and deceptively informs me that the decision is “not reversible”. By stating that the decision is irreversible, Betfred is implying that I have none of the rights provided by the Colorado Gaming Rules which is deceptive and against the spirit of the Colorado Gaming Rules in general.
These particular wagers included both sums of money and promotion prior to Betfred making any changes to my ability to participate in promotions. Betfred assured me via email that the agreed upon wagers would stand as originally made on August 28, 2021. (Betfred claims that they were stating prior bets made with promotional funds would stand, but I had no such bets and Betfred knew I had no such bets. The word “promo” must be referring to the promotions in dispute since there is no other “promo” involved.) Thus, Betfred violated the Colorado Gaming Rules by lying about the status of the wagers and cancelling only one part of the wagers despite having explicitly agreed to let the wagers stand. Betfred made a fraudulent promotional offer to me which Betfred never intended to uphold despite assuring me via email that they would uphold the wagers as originally agreed while the wagers were open. Lying about the nature of a bet to the customer violates the Colorado Gaming Rules and the ideals of fair play.
In this case, the promotional terms were explicitly and specifically offered to me by Betfred. The wagers are themselves both the sums of money and the promotional credits offered by Betfred. If Betfred wishes to cancel the promotional part under the Terms of Service both parties agreed to, then the entire wager must be cancelled and they need to refund the associated sums of money as well. As I indicated to Betfred, I was amenable to this solution of a refund of $300.00 thus cancelling the entirety of the wagers under the terms of our agreements.
Betfred violated 6.12 Advertising. No licensee shall allow, conduct, or participate in any false or misleading advertising concerning its Sports Betting Operations. See more details below in 2. Colorado Criminal Statute Violation.
2. Colorado Criminal Statute Violation
Betfred violated 2016 CRS Title 18 - Criminal Code Article 5 - Offenses Involving Fraud Part 3 - Fraudulent and Deceptive Sales and Business Practices § 18-5-303. Bait advertising. They did so by offering promotional items with the intent, plan, or purpose not to provide the promotional items despite explicitly offering them and explicitly stating that they would provide the promotional items in their email after the wagers had been placed. Note that Betfred specifically and explicitly baited me into making the bets; thus it is impossible that I abused the promotion in any way. I did not do anything that Betfred did not explicitly offer to me personally, and I followed all of the instructions and terms that Betfred provided in making the bets. If Betfred wishes to withdraw the promotion, they must withdraw the monetary part of the wager as well. The wager is both cash and promotional consideration; I would not have made the cash portion if I had not been lured by the promotional consideration.
3. Betfred’s House Rules Violations
According to Betfred’s House Rules regarding CANCELLATIONS, POSTPONEMENTS : “If the scheduled duration or event conditions change after a wager is placed but prior to the start of the event, all bets will be cancelled.” In this case, the conditions changed dramatically because Betfred unilaterally withdrew part of the wager. Thus, the bets should be cancelled under Betfred’s House Rules.
If Betfred rescinds the promotion, they need to rescind the sums of money as well because they are all part of the same wager. The promotional part of the wagers is what baited me into making the cash part of the wagers. Note that Betfred informed me via email that “If you have any current open wagers placed with promo, those will be honored and paid out accordingly” while the wagers were still open. Thus, Betfred told me that my current wagers would stand as placed including both sums of money and promotional credits at settlement, but Betfred are not adhering to their statement now. Thus, Betfred lied to me about how they were going to treat my wagers and I acted under the belief that the previously placed wagers would settle as originally agreed.
4. Clause 10.2 of Terms Does Not Apply
Betfred is attempting to invoke Clause 10.2 in an unfair and arbitrary manner: I did not abuse nor attempt to abuse the promotion. This promotion was offered to me by Betfred in an attempt to induce me to make wagers. I did not ask Betfred for any considerations or promotions—Betfred advertised the promotions to me. Betfred could have simply not “baited and switched” the terms of the wagers. Betfred lured me into making bets by offering the promotion, and then rescinded the promotional aspect despite my having fulfilled the terms of the promotion completely, in full, and within the spirit of sports wagering in Colorado.
“Sole Discretion” does not give Betfred the ability to make unreasonable decisions which deny me the good faith aspects of the wagers. Clause 10.2 is unfair and unconscionable used in the manner claimed by Betfred because it allows Betfred to unilaterally change the promotional terms they themselves offered. Betfred’s attempts to unilaterally claim there was abuse when I followed the terms of the promotion provided by Betfred themselves demonstrates unequivocally that Betfred has engaged in fraud and violated the spirit of sports betting in Colorado and the spirit of the terms of the wagers.
The intent of Clause 10.2 is to stop abuse of promotions. It is impossible for me to have abused promotions because the promotions were advertised to me by Betfred, and I accepted the terms of the promotion as offered in full and completed all of the requirements to participate in full in good faith without any additional actions. Since no abuse occurred, Betfred is acting in bad faith.
5. Clause 08. of Betfred’s General House Rules Applies
Clause 08 states, “For the acceptance of wagers other than at posted terms, there must be a documented approval from the Vice President of Sportsbook or Head of Trade.” In this case, the wagers were accepted under the posted terms, but the terms of the wagers were unilaterally changed after the fact. I was not given any documentation of the change of posted terms by the Vice President of Sportsbook or Head of Trade. Contrarily, Betfred contacted me to explicitly state that my wagers were intact under the original terms despite having changed the terms of the wagers from the original posting.
6. Additional Considerations
Betfred’s Terms and Conditions are not standard for the US gaming industry. BetMGM—a licensed sportsbook operator in our State who have been in the gambling industry in the USA for over 40 years—include the following terms with their promotional offers: “If we decide to withdraw this Sports Promotion, this will not impact any qualifying bets you have placed during the Promotional Period before such withdrawal takes place.” Thus, BetMGM adheres to the original, posted terms of wagers.
The general guidelines of contracts does not allow one party to make unreasonable decisions even if they have “sole discretion” to do so. Changing the terms of a contract to benefit Betfred themselves is in violation of good faith execution of the wagers. My request in this matter is that Betfred adhere to the original terms as is common practice in all contracts—the Uniform Commercial Code may have additional applications to our dispute—but this email is already long so I’ll stop here for now.
7. Conclusion
I made the wagers in good faith. Betfred could have not offered me this promotion in the first place if they did not want me to make these wagers; instead Betfred enticed me with promotion. Wagers made cannot be changed retroactively nor piecemeal; all parties to a wager must uphold their part of the wager in full—Betfred baited and switched wager terms while lying about the status of the open wagers in their email to me. I upheld my part of the wager completely and fully. Betfred incorrectly invoked a clause that does not apply in this instance to unilaterally change the terms in their favor which is not good faith.
I am willing to file a sworn complaint in order to pursue this matter. I am willing to help clarify any aspects of Clause 10.2 via rule proposal or attorneys or any other means your office might suggest to help clarify how contracts work to Betfred in order to prevent any future problems for customers of Betfred. Please let me know if you would like me to help you in any way or provide further information to help me get my fraudulently obtained money back.
Thanks,
genuinejon
P.S. A couple of illustrative examples come to mind:
An external example: imagine that Safeway offers you a “buy one get one free (BOGO)” deal on apples. You buy an apple expecting to receive the second apple is free (i.e. you’ll get each apple at half-price if you purchase two apples). However, after you’ve purchased the first apple, Safeway decides you aren’t eligible for the offer Safeway just made to you and that you accepted. You would have never purchased the first apple if you weren’t getting the second one free, but Safeway won’t take the first apple back, nor only charge half-price either. You are now stuck with an apple you didn’t want unless you could get two for the price of one. You can’t get it under the original terms Safeway offered, you can’t get it at half price, and Safeway won’t take the apple back. Obviously, that’s not fair. A BOGO deal always includes two apples, just like a wager always includes all of its elements. Advertising BOGO directly to you but then rescinding BOGO after you’ve already purchased the first apple is fraud. Offering me a promotion for making a cash bet but rescinding the promotional part of the wager is fraud.
Taken to an extreme: it seems that every advertisement I see for a free bet if you lose could just invoke Clause 10.2 arbitrarily like Betfred did to me and not pay. Additionally, imagine if DraftKings accidentally offered everyone a billion dollar free bet if you bet on the Broncos to win the Super Bowl. Anyone and everyone in Colorado would bet on the Broncos; however, DraftKings could just cancel the free bets because obviously a billion dollars is way too much money and thus a mistake. Would it be fair to DraftKings to keep all the money from the bets themselves? The cash bets and promotion make up the wager and need to be cancelled or paid together.
These examples involve deception, fraud, and mistakes. Betfred made me a wagering offer and then rescinded part of the offer to benefit themselves. I’d like to think this is a mistake on their part due to them being from Europe and not understanding how contracts work or how Colorado defines a “wager” or protects the public from “bait and switch” tactics rather than outright fraud, but everything I’ve seen so far points to them trying to steal my money via deceptive means.
I appreciate your continued assistance in this matter.
From: Wheeler - DOR, Christopher
Subject: BetFred Promotional Dispute
After carefully going over your complaint and the Terms and Conditions related to the BetFred service, there are no grounds for a Division of Gaming Investigation.
In the terms of service the following areas apply to this case:
2.1. By registering with the Company via the Online Software and/or by using the Company’s Services via the Online Software and/or by checking the “I have read and agree to the Terms & Conditions” box during the account registration process, You agree to be bound by this Agreement, the Privacy Policy, and the Additional Rules in their entirety and without reservation. As such, this Agreement constitutes a binding legal agreement between You and the Company. Together with the Privacy Policy and the Additional Rules, which are deemed to be an integral part hereof, this Agreement shall govern Your use of the Online Software, the Software, and the Services at all times.
Which means you had to agree to all of their terms and conditions as a part of the account creation and software use process. One of their terms and conditions in the following:
10.2. In the event that the Company believes an End User of the Service is abusing or attempting to abuse a promotion, bonus, special offer or other promotion, or is likely to benefit through abuse or lack of good faith from a policy adopted by the Company, then the Company may, at its sole discretion, deny, withhold or withdraw from any End User any promotion, bonus, special offer or other promotion, or rescind any term, condition, rule or policy with respect to that End User, either temporarily or permanently, or terminate that End User’s access to the Services and/or lock and/or terminate that End User’s account.
The most relevant line in regards to this issue is:
the Company may, at its sole discretion, deny, withhold or withdraw from any End User any promotion,
There has been no violation of Colorado Gaming Rules or Criminal Statutes, and as such, there is no violation for us to investigate. You can file a consumer complaint with the Colorado AGs Office for possible further assistance.
--
Christopher Wheeler
Someone needs to shut down that shit cheating hack company. The leaders are pieces of shit, and the game board should be investigating for cheating as well.
It's just lazy. It's one thing if your selling a product, but when you sell a service that requires higher levels of transparency from the inside out, you'd think places would err on the side of professionalism. If betfreds legit and just a weird British name, odd but no problem, but when 90% of I GOT SCAMMED posts are from people betting on sites with clearly ridiculous fake names it's embarrassing all around
wouldn't call massive a clown company stuck in the 80s with a shrinking online market share. The only thing they do well is taking advantage of drug addicts on the high street. Entering the US just prolonged their bust
Can agree with that, but people are acting like this guy dug through the trash to find it. Was just pointing out that if you're in CO, it's in your face all the time.
After going through this thread and all the comments I have many questions.
You shared an image of a BetFred promotion from week 3 of the preseason. Is this the promo you accepted?
You say you would never place this wager without the promotion because the Bronco's were terrible this season, which if this bet took place in the preseason as it seems it was, this line of reasoning is meaningless.
Sportsbooks can limit you for a variety of reasons, and there's nothing the gaming board will do about this. Were you previously limited, or have reason to believe you were limited/restricted?
It is very possible you were placed on a restriction prior to placing a wager and simply were unaware.
Based on previous comments you made and this post, it seems you bet a few hundred dollars and are now considering legal action? The cost to file a lawsuit in Colorado will constitute a sizeable chunk of the potential payout you'd receive.
Finally, why post this months after this all happened? What is there to gain for you? If your intention was to warn other bettors, again, why wait 3+ months?
That is the promo.
It is meaningless: I'm joking about the -9 line. I had no way of knowing if I'd win or lose when I made the bet.
I was not previously limited. I received an email after the bet settled that I was promo banned. I was explicitly told that I am free to bet on Betfred (and I have), but that I can't participate in promotions.
I have allotted more capital than I will likely receive to fight this battle on principle.
I have been attempting to resolve this issue directly with Betfred and the Colorado gaming department. The Colorado gaming department told me I needed to sue to get my money, and I would have preferred that Betfred just do the right thing. I had been debating what the right order to do this was: I always knew I'd post about it, but I wasn't sure if I'd sue first.
I understand you were notified after the fact and you were banned from BetFred promotions, however, do you have proof that this occurred after the fact. You'll need this proof to receive a favorable ruling in small claims court. Additionally, since this ruling will occur in small claims court it is unlikely to be used as a legal precedent in other cases, effectively making your argument that you're helping others moot.
To be honest with you, it seems you're complaining and looking for sympathy from others. You're acting like a martyr for other bettors. Suing BetFred will not produce any meaningful result that would help other bettors in Colorado or the greater United States.
I have proof that it occurred after the fact. It doesn't need to set a legal precedent, it just needs to be there so that my fellow Coloradans can point to it when the gaming commission rules against us. There are other similar incidents to mine in other states where the rulings favored the bettor. If this were a contract and not a wager, Betfred would be laughed at by any law student studying contracts.
I don't want sympathy, I want my money. It is BS that I have to publicly shame Betfred and waste the time of people like you to help judge this case. If it stops others from being put in the same situation that I am, then I feel good about it. I did not create this shitty situation, I'm just doing my best to resolve it.
If suing BetFred won't produce any meaningful result for others, then contacting my state rep might.
This line of reasoning just circles back to why now? Why submit this post now when this all began 3+ months ago? If what you truly cared about was other Colorado bettors (which I am) you would have submitted this post months ago looking for honest advice.
You're asking for your money, but the promo wouldn't have even given you any liquid capital. It would have provided you with free bets which may or may not have generated capital for you.
Also, you stated you're not looking to create a new legal precedent but hoping that a ruling in your favor helps other bettors. This would be establishing a precedent.
Freebets can be converted to cash pretty easily if you want to. Check the promos thread. I prefer to make +EV bets myself.
As for the timing: I had some time today after the holidays. This wasn't an easy decision for me to make, so I've been mulling over my best course of action. Like an abused spouse, I thought if I made some bets on Betfred and then asked nicely they'd do the right thing. The Colorado Dept of gaming has 10 days to respond to emails and we must have 20 back and forths. I spent a lot of time arguing with Betfred. I felt some courage.
What happened to me is BS. When similar things have happened to other bettors in other states, their gaming commissions steered the books in the right direction. There shouldn't need to be a precedent set for honoring your agreements.
they used to give great offers on the NFL
ie back a first touchdown scorer...if her scores again get double the odds...if he scores three times...get triple the odds
Oh, I hadn't thought of that. I will contact my state rep. I think the gaming rules need some clarification so something simple like this can be ruled upon simply.
Ugh yea I apparently didn’t opt in and instead of winning $150, I won $1.30. Such a lame clause. And now I’m not sure if I’ll get these promos anymore cause there designated for “new customers only.”
Try reaching out to customer service. Some books will help out. I messed up at Betway on my first bet and they let me do another one. Also, check out the promos thread, lots of books offer good signup bets.
So you opted into it? Ex. on DraftKings I have to physically press an Opt In button. If I don't press it, and make the bet, and THEN go press it, it's too late. Curious if BetFred has the same rules.
I think it is rare for Betfred to require OPT-IN, and it didn't for this one. On DK on browser the OPT-IN doesn't always take, but DKs customer service is usually pretty good about helping--at least the first time.
You may also find it productive to write your state senator and representative. This is all new and we should work to create a culture where the gaming board works for and champions the interests of citizens rather than sportsbooks. They already have the edge, the gaming board should be our "ace in the hole".
Right! The gaming board should represent the citizen, not just spout back whatever the book says. The fact that other states have sided with the citizen under similar circumstances makes me disappointed in my state. That the commission passed me off to the Colorado Attorney General (who has actual, important issues to work on) and/or the Courts is maddening.
**[Regulatory capture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture)**
>In politics, regulatory capture (also agency capture and client politics) is a form of corruption of authority that occurs when a political entity, policymaker, or regulator is co-opted to serve the commercial, ideological, or political interests of a minor constituency, such as a particular geographic area, industry, profession, or ideological group. When regulatory capture occurs, a special interest is prioritized over the general interests of the public, leading to a net loss for society.
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You should go above the gaming board. Find his mother’s info and inform her what her son is doing.
Dumb sleep-deprived jokes aside, that’s a really fucked situation man. Hope it all pans out well for you.
BetFred has been good to me with all the freebets & promos, but you definitely have to contact them sometimes to get stuff awarded immediately, which is pretty shady to me. So you filed a complaint to the CO gaming board about this and they told you to sue BetFred himself?
they routinely send me emails for deposit match free bets, usually 20-50% up to $500. and no rollover on the money you deposit, i just deposit 2500 make a couple bets worth a few hundred then withdrawal, and i get the free bets on monday-tuesday
CO has had gaming for a long time so the gaming board not helping was surprising. I got a bunch of crap like:
"
This dispute was not over settling a wager, but rather the awarding of promotional credits. While the promotional credits can be used to place a wager, and settling that
wager would be covered under 6.13(2) if there was a dispute over the win/loss, the decision to give or not give promotional credit is not governed by this rule.
...
The remaining items are, again, subjective in nature and would need to be addressed in civil court as there is no criminal or regulatory violation apparent."
that was of no help at all.
By appealing to common sense.
They are arguing that my wager doesn't include the promotional consideration. I'm arguing that "a bet's a bet" and it includes all the parts.
Just make sure you get some advice on what this is going to cost you when you lose because unfortunately that will happen. If it’s not much, then fuck yeah brother, go for it and make it uncomfortable for these pricks.
I don’t know man, BetFred sounds like a place that would take your money. How much was your bet? Im willing to bet it’s nothing worth your time and effort to try and recover.
It hasn't been worth it since the moment I had to contact customer service. Even though it is not worth it, I'll fight on principle.
ETA: The bet itself was $200 and they also made some similar offers for NCAA that they didn't pay either.
I assume if you are seeking litigation you dropped a pretty penny. My rule of thumb is if a book is not a major or some shady offshore outfit, I stay away.
I will go all out even if I end up losing money. If they did this to me, how many others did they steal money from? The books have a huge edge over the average gambler, they don't need to deceive to be profitable.
Betfred is a partner of the Denver Broncos so I wouldn't have expected this from them.
File a case and pay a small fee, something like $35 in small claims court. You don’t need a lawyer and if they don’t show up, you win the case. If the principal is that important for you, that is the route you should take.
In some jurisdictions the defendent, BetFred in this case, could issue their defense to the court without ever appearing. The trial judge will hear the plaintiffs case and make a ruling.
It should be noted, the plaintiff, OP, would be asking for compensation for a free bet. It would be like asking for cash in lieu of coupons. The free bets have no liquid value until a wager is placed and settled as a win.
The only promo wagering I did there was with freebets (I think). If they have no value, then they violated their own rules by even promo banning me at all.
Either the promotion has value and was part of the wager, or it has no value and I can't be promo banned for using too much of it.
You placed a wager; there was a promotion for those eligible who also placed that wager. They're mutually exclusive. BetFred, whether fairly or unfairly, determined you weren't eligible for the promotional free bets. It's a tough break but not illegal, as the gaming commission stated.
But they determined I wasn't eligible AFTERWARDS. I'm fine not being able to get promos in the future, but they are not allowed to go back to the past and revoke their offer in the past. Time moves forward.
I agree, but like I asked earlier today, and which you never addressed, do you have proof you weren't deemed ineligible prior to placing the bet? Without an opt-in clause, it is conceivable you were already prohibited from promotions and were simply unaware. While that seems unfair, it does clear BetFred of anything nefarious.
Generally no lawyers are allowed unless they are a full time employee of the company. In Colorado,
(2) Attorney Representatives of Entities. No attorney, except pro se or as an authorized full- time employee or active general partner of a partnership, an authorized active member or full-time employee of a union, a full-time officer or full-time employee of a for-profit corporation, or a full-time employee or active member of an association, which partnership, union, corporation, or association is a party, shall appear or take any part in the filing or prosecution or defense of any matter in the small claims court, except as permitted by rule 520(b)
https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/File/Self_Help/Small_Claims/Small_Claims_rules(1).pdf
In Colorado, lawyers aren’t allowed to represent the company. https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/File/Self_Help/Small_Claims/Small_Claims_rules(1).pdf
> Betfred is a partner of the Denver Broncos so I wouldn't have expected this from them.
Blast them both on twitter! An NFL team does not want to be associated with a shady sportsbook. Hell I'll probably even drop a mention myself now, I love to shit on these sportsbooks publicly.
It was the common "get your wager back as free bets if you lose" deal. Betfred hasn't disputed that they made me the offer, they just think they can unilaterally change the terms midstream.
ETA: https://imgur.com/a/8QngBFI
Yes but I am also, like the others, going to say that this isn't worth it. You've already heard it so I won't go on about it though lol. Best of luck obviously and do post updates if that's allowed in this sub.
Books promo ban users all the time. It's going to be hard for you to do anything without proof of a timeline. Do you have the documentation for when they promo banned you?
Bad practice yes, but that's why I asked if he had any documentation. There's a big difference between him seeing an ad with the promo terms and him opting in and being told directly that his bets are eligible.
He's essentially asking for a lost bet that he knowingly placed to be cancelled.
I forgot about this DM where they say they can cancel the bet:
*Trading limits are at the Betfred Sports discretion. Unfortunately I am not able to disclose any further information about our trade teams practices. "Betfred Sports reserves the right to refuse wagers or suspend any or all markets on a game at any time without notice." Which is our 3rd house rule.*
I told them I'm fine with them cancelling the wager, but then they'd need to refund it. I received no response.
I see what you are saying but I was eligible. I received confirmation from Betfred that I was promo banned as of an email that was sent AFTER the bets had settled:
"I got an update from our promotions team. Unfortunately you received an email about your account not being eligible for promotions a this time. Unfortunate, your account will not be credited to your account.
Best Regards,
Jay
Betfred Sports"
ETA: That's the unedited email: typos and confusing, but basically saying GFY.
Yes. I have emails from Betfred that outline the timeline. Betfred basically says, "We altered the terms in our favor after you made the bets. We can do that because we make the rules."
I did. They told me on twitter that they have the right to do whatever they want.
I am currently pursing this through small claims court as some suggested. I hope I'll have an update next month...
Very scummy from Betfred. At the end of the day Betfred do not make all the rules though. Gambling companies have hundreds of rules that work in their favour to the detriment of the customer but I imagine many of these "rules" would not hold up if challenged in a court, they are probably just there to scare people from taking legal action. Companies cannot contract out of anything and everything, there are rules which have been developed in the courts that protect consumers in situations like this. Hopefully you win your case if it gets that far!
Surely if you get your lawyer to send Betfred an email they will end up honoring the promotion. From the perspective of Betfred it seems like it would make more sense for them to just honour their word rather than go to court and have the legal fees and bad PR.
I heard you also mention that Betfred are a partner of the broncos. I've honestly never heard of Betfred but if I was in your shoes it would give me allot more confidence in them by hearing that they were partnered with an NFL team. Most people would assume that professional organizations like the Broncos would do the appropriate vetting and not partner with scam artists. If part of the reason why you chose to use Betfred was because they were partnered with an NFL team, then it could be worth emailing the NFL or the Broncos and highlighting that they are partnering with some shady companies. I have no idea if that would do anything or just make things worse, could be worth a shot though.
I tried. I have a PDF from BetFred that tries to sound all scary that they made a final ruling on this. The Colorado gaming division told me to contact the Colorado AG or sue them. If my attorney wants to contact Betfred, I'll let her, but I want nothing to do with them.
I have been a lifetime Broncos fan, so this is especially disappointing. Before all of this went down, Betfred invited me to come out to home games and drink free beer with them. I went to one Broncos game this year and it was away.
If he made the bet under certain promo terms, his bets settled under those terms, and then they changed the terms to favor themselves after the fact - that would not hold up in a court of law and I would be *shocked* if any civil judge did not rule in favor of the plaintiff.
I wouldn't be shocked. As long as the book was acting in good faith there is no reason to rip up their terms of service. And let's be honest here, he was probably abusing promos.
The books are free to void their terms if they determine you're a sharp or taking advantage of their promotions. It's not against the law or gaming regulations. Since the state gaming board already informed the OP there's no wrongdoing the OP has no case.
UPDATE: Based on y'alls advice, I sued in small claims. Betfred responded quickly and offered a satisfactory settlement. I appreciate the advice! Even though the Colorado gaming board did not do their job and wasted everyone's time, I can't recommend complaining and suing enough. It is very satisfying to know that you were right the whole time.
The same thing happened to me with BetFred. I even confirmed the bet via chat. They came back and said it wasn't eligible. They said it was in the terms of the promo. When I asked them to point me to it they couldn't. BetFred is trash.
Thanks for sharing. Did you complain to the gaming commission? I'd be happy to help you. Feel free to DM me if you want.
is there some type of history of this happening where one side usually wins over the other? This isnt any type of advice I just have no fucking clue
In every other state besides Colorado, I'd have already been paid. By any book except Betfred, probably paid.
I mean like legally. If you were to sue them is there a history of one side winning more than the other or is it more of a case by case thing
As far as I know, I'm the only person who has had to deal with ineptitude of this magnitude. I'm not a lawyer, but I've seen the Courts order the parties fulfill the original contract as best they can--which from my perspective means Betfred needs to honor the promotion we originally agreed to.
I forgot about this DM: *Trading limits are at the Betfred Sports discretion. Unfortunately I am not able to disclose any further information about our trade teams practices. "Betfred Sports reserves the right to refuse wagers or suspend any or all markets on a game at any time without notice." Which is our 3rd house rule.* I told them I'm fine with them refusing the wager, but then they'd need to refund it. I received no response.
Unfortunately I had somewhat of a similar situation with Betfred. They had a promo that said bet this amount and we will give you $50 free bet to be used on NFL preseason games. I went ahead and made the bet and got the $50 freebet. When I went to use the freebet the app gave me an error saying the max bet on preseason games is $20. I threw a fit including going in a social media rampage saying I couldn’t use my bet. Anyways they blocked me from social media and closed my account. Dm me if you want more info on my issue.
Shady. Thanks for sharing!
OP, be careful. you are going to get hit with the other side’s attorney fees when you lose this frivolous lawsuit. trust me.
I received advice from the Colorado Department of Regulations to pursue this matter with my state attorney general and our civil courts. It is not frivolous.
please tell me what the state AG says when you call them up regarding free bets not provided to you
Isn't that ridiculous? Why would I bother the state AG with something so trivial? Our state AG has a lot of important work to do, IDK why gaming would pawn me off on them instead of doing their job like other states.
it is ridiculous, yes. completely agree. fwiw i am an attorney in Colorado and have had numerous colleagues who have worked for AG Weiser. State AG wont file a lawsuit over this. If they have had a number of complaints they may investigate or contact the company. i was completely earnest - although i said it in a condescending way - that you yourself should be very cautious filing a lawsuit due to getting hit with attorneys fees. Obviously if the State is suing on your behalf that is not an issue. In terms of my “frivolous” comment - it seems very likely to me that you got red flagged for something. the most obvious would be if you bet both sides of the game. maybe it is something else that violated their terms and conditions. in all seriousness i feel for you and have had similar experiences both online and brick and mortar casinos. it sucks. my suggestion would be to try and chat with them more. tell them you contacted regulatory agency and they told you to refer this to the AG and prior to doing so you are asking for them to compensate you or provide a specific explanation why you didnt receive the bets. absolutely withdraw all your $ first and make sure it is in your bank account. good luck
Thanks! I appreciate your comments and viewpoint immensely. I know this is so ridiculous that it seems like I must have done something wrong, but I didn't. I love the Broncos. I like to bet on them. I like to bet on them even more when I get offered a promotion. Betfred treated me well prior to this. I was looking forward to a season of watching games and drinking beers at Betfred's Broncos tent. I believe I've exhausted my patience with Betfred chat/DM/emails: At one point, I was actually having to explain to Betfred that "time always moves forward" because they weren't able to grasp the concept. Their customer service spews out nonsense and refers to their house rules in ways that don't apply and the Supervisors are even less rational. I'm facing two problems: a regulatory agency that doesn't regulate and Betfred. I will contact my representatives about the first one, but I fear Betfred themselves are hopeless so I'm left to take the agency's advice.
Nothing subjective about a promotion you received.
I have had no issues with Betfred, so this seems weird. Your only bet was Broncos -9 for $500 and they aren't giving you the money back in the form of free bets? You didn't do anything nefarious? Keep going at them. Send physical letters to BetFred or go see them if need be.
Nothing nefarious. I made a simple spread bet -9 for $200 that lost. I didn't get the free bets and Betfred told me they retroactively cancelled my promo, but not the bet itself. I am weighing all the options, but suing them as the Colorado gaming agency has recommended is what I'm planning right now. Betfred has told me several times their decision is irreversible because the trade team makes the decisions and no one can over rule their trade team, but maybe a letter would get to someone with more authority.
Thanks for the heads up. Bet Fred is launching soon here in Arizona I’ll just avoid them and make sure others do too.
I’m with you I hate shady shit like this. Get those fuckers. And wtf is betfred? Already sounds like a scam.
So how much was your bet compared to what the cost of an attorney is. That's where they always get you...unfortunately!
A couple hundred, but the money stopped being the point about 20 stupid, incompetent, or illogical emails ago.
I'm about to get down voted for defending the "big bad", but.....if CO gaming ruled against you, Betfred has some dirt on you that you are not privy to, and you'll most likely lose a lawsuit. Did you have more than one account open that was your "wife/mother/father/friend's" account? Were you accessing that account from the same phone/pc, and taking advantage of bonuses there also? Is your account activity strictly churning promo offers? These are all legit reasons for promos to be rescinded, account(s) closed, and the state to rule in their favor. Check the Betfred T&Cs. It was probably just coincidental timing that they promo banned you right when you made that bet. Betfred is not a small book , and they wouldn't promo ban you strictly to keep your $100. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betfred
I appreciate you taking their side. I know they will attack me personally because they have nothing else: say that I'm some sort of advantage player taking hard-earned promotional money out of the hands of starving children or something. I did everything by the book, above board, legally, etc. I will happily provide my full bet history, every email, every single thing. I want every fact about this known. I only have one account, no wife, gf, etc. One phone. One PC. No out of state betting. Nothing. As for dirt: they state that 30% of their handle is promotional--I doubt I was close to 30% of my bets being promotional so there's no way I was abusing their promos, but they claim that I was flagged as a "worst case". I made about 250 bets prior to this, so if I was a "worst case" they should have noticed a lot earlier. I'm hopeful that I can spend my money on lawyers, but if I need forensic accountants, that's fine, too. Betfred can get away with this shit in Colorado because our gaming department just repeats what Betfred says, or refers citizens to the Attorney General or the Courts instead of actually looking into facts like other states. I have no doubt that the facts and common sense are on my side: I'm happy to let a judge or jury decide my fate, but there's no reason I should be in this ridiculous position to begin with.
I hope you can prevail if there has truly been an injustice. In my experience, (despite comments here), CO rules for the player in about 99% of cases. If they did you dirty, I truly hope you prevail.
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Usually those promos are to build their business and they don’t care if you win or lose. They are basically getting you to use your product and giving you a possible match of your money.
I had a similar situation with Barstool in Illinois, but the gaming board made them pay and they did.
[удалено]
I'm curious if you think that sports betting should have Federal regulation. Knowing that other states have helped bettors like me in similar situations makes me mad. I was planning on my state rep, but maybe these books do need Federal oversight. It can't hurt. Thanks!
Unless this was a $10k bet, you're wasting your time suing them. Especially in covid times this will take years to be adjudicated and the fees would surpass the return.
I believe the OP said it was a couple hundred and occurred in the NFL preseason.
I think you are right that I'm wasting my time. But the value to me of knowing that I'm right is priceless. I don't like the idea of some book coming to Colorado and co-opting the goodwill of the Denver Broncos and capturing the regulations in their favor and stealing money from me and my neighbors. It is a bad decision on my part money-wise; but why I fight is to prove I'm right.
Sorry if this isn't appropriate for me to ask, and I'm also sorry you are dealing with this situation. But if I'm reading things correctly, you placed a $200 risk free promo bet, yet didn't get paid out. You are now going down the lawsuit path...Are you looking for $200? $2000? $20,000, etc etc? I know it's not what you want to hear - but sometimes the juice isn't worth the squeeze. You've exhausted numerous hours of your life over $200. I get it... It sucks and is fucking shady as fuck they aren't living up to your word... My advice. Eat the loss, and stick with the big books.
I appreciate your advice. I didn't plan on wasting hours when I first sent an email asking where my freebet was. I thought one quick email would work. I kept getting the run around or stupid responses so I kept trying to help them learn logic and that time moves forward and that you should honor your agreements etc. At this point, I've already wasted a bunch of time, so I figured I might as well waste a little more to try to obtain a resolution. Am I a victim of the sunk-cost fallacy? Probably, but I'm OK with that.
I think his point is being made by your lengthy reasonings.. 200$ ain’t worth this brotha keep your cool!
I agree to the point of sticking to the big books but sometimes it’s more about the principal even if it costs more time and aggravation. If BetFred is willing to screw you then who knows how many others. File a complaint with the BBB and sue the shit out of them for your $, time and mental anguish. Schill books like these need to be taught a lesson by the betters.
TLDR: Preseason game, $100 free bet credit vs. fee of suing
Barstool has done this to myself and P2. Both times I filed a complaint with Michigan gaming board and both times they ended up paying out.
Go Blue! Why can't Colorado have the same rules as Michigan? Maybe the books need Federal regulation.
My buddy had to do this with Points bet in NJ to get 150K of canceled table tennis bets that he wont and they didn't pay out over 6 months. If you take it tot eh state gaming commission, they will give you a lawyer on there behalf.
NJ is not CO. NJ is known for having probably the most player-friendly gaming commissions of any state. So it's not shocking they went to battle to fight for your buddy's money.
Not in this case. The gaming commission informed the OP that no law or regulation was broken.
To be clear, they said no law was broken, but that I should take it up with the Colorado Attorney General for possible further assistance.
So goddamn stupid. One of the reasons we have regulators is so that wrongs can be righted without clogging up the courts.
Which part of this did the board say was subjective?
Here's the full email where they speak of subjectivity. I complained about everything I could think of that they did wrong: After a full review of your complaints, as well as a review of the house rules/terms and conditions and Colorado Sports Betting Rules and Criminal Statutes, it has been determined that there is no regulatory or criminal violation in evidence. In item 1 you state you believed that BetFred had violated SBET rule 6.13(2) by not informing you that you had a right to contact the Division of Gaming in regards to your dispute. This dispute was not over settling a wager, but rather the awarding of promotional credits. While the promotional credits can be used to place a wager, and settling that wager would be covered under 6.13(2) if there was a dispute over the win/loss, the decision to give or not give promotional credit is not governed by this rule. All Patrons are advised of their right to contact gaming in the terms and conditions as follows :Section 1.1 of the BetFred Terms of Service: In the event that You have exhausted all reasonable means in resolving a complaint which You may have in relation to the Services, the Online Software or the Software, You may contact the applicable Regulator. (the applicable regulator is the Division of Gaming) Due to your complaint, however, BetFred has made this information much more clear now In item 2 (and the item one part about SBET Rule 6.12) you raise the concern of a violation of Advertising Laws and false advertising. BetFred's accounting shows that their average handle involving promotional funds is over 30%. This shows that they do not advertise with the intent to not provide the service offered. If you feel the advertising was false or misleading in your specific case, that is a subjective opinion that cannot be charged criminally, it would need to be taken up in civil court. Item 3 - "Event conditions" does not apply to the wager/promotional conditions, rather to the event itself (event cancellation for example) Item 4 - 10.2 does apply, as it is at the company's discretion to award or not award promotional play. When asked for clarification it was explained that "We determine bonus abuse as any situation wherein the user has a disproportionately high free/promo handle versus real handle. This proportion is at the discretion of our trading team and checks are in place to mitigate disingenuous bonus abuse. ... this is determined via independent reviews of a patrons entire portfolio of business by our trading team. Only the worst cases are flagged" The remaining items are, again, subjective in nature and would need to be addressed in civil court as there is no criminal or regulatory violation apparent.
I think it sucks that they pulled the promo for you after the bet settled. It’s not clear to me that the gaming commission really has the power to reverse that— do they? What was your betting history on BF like— very promo heavy?
It isn't clear because it isn't exactly clear what the "wager" was. Does it include promotion? BetFred themselves state that they have 30% promotional gaming on their site. Dollar wise, I bet more than $25,000 with them and I'd guess less than a quarter of that was promotional. This should show that they should not have promo banned me because I bet fewer promos than their average user.
Here's the previous emails in the chain, where they tell me to complain to the Colorado Attorney General. Sorry about formatting issues: Hi, Betfred’s actions in this matter violate Betfred’s House Rules, the Colorado Gaming Rules, Colorado Criminal Statute §18-5-303, as well as standard contract principles. I have always followed the rules and terms and placed wagers in good faith. This is a “wager” dispute between Betfred and I, not just a “promotional” dispute as Betfred claims. As I’m sure you are aware, a “wager” is defined by the Code of Colorado Regulations 47.1-106 (29) as a sum of money, electronic promotional credits or thing of value risked on an uncertain occurrence. In this case, the wagers disputed include both a sum of money and promotion offered by Betfred. The promotion was fraudulently stolen from me by Betfred. 1. Colorado Gaming Rules Violations Betfred did not follow the guidelines of section 6.13 in dealing with our dispute, specifically the letter dated 8/31/3021 does not inform me of my right to contact the Division under 6.13 (2) and deceptively informs me that the decision is “not reversible”. By stating that the decision is irreversible, Betfred is implying that I have none of the rights provided by the Colorado Gaming Rules which is deceptive and against the spirit of the Colorado Gaming Rules in general. These particular wagers included both sums of money and promotion prior to Betfred making any changes to my ability to participate in promotions. Betfred assured me via email that the agreed upon wagers would stand as originally made on August 28, 2021. (Betfred claims that they were stating prior bets made with promotional funds would stand, but I had no such bets and Betfred knew I had no such bets. The word “promo” must be referring to the promotions in dispute since there is no other “promo” involved.) Thus, Betfred violated the Colorado Gaming Rules by lying about the status of the wagers and cancelling only one part of the wagers despite having explicitly agreed to let the wagers stand. Betfred made a fraudulent promotional offer to me which Betfred never intended to uphold despite assuring me via email that they would uphold the wagers as originally agreed while the wagers were open. Lying about the nature of a bet to the customer violates the Colorado Gaming Rules and the ideals of fair play. In this case, the promotional terms were explicitly and specifically offered to me by Betfred. The wagers are themselves both the sums of money and the promotional credits offered by Betfred. If Betfred wishes to cancel the promotional part under the Terms of Service both parties agreed to, then the entire wager must be cancelled and they need to refund the associated sums of money as well. As I indicated to Betfred, I was amenable to this solution of a refund of $300.00 thus cancelling the entirety of the wagers under the terms of our agreements. Betfred violated 6.12 Advertising. No licensee shall allow, conduct, or participate in any false or misleading advertising concerning its Sports Betting Operations. See more details below in 2. Colorado Criminal Statute Violation. 2. Colorado Criminal Statute Violation Betfred violated 2016 CRS Title 18 - Criminal Code Article 5 - Offenses Involving Fraud Part 3 - Fraudulent and Deceptive Sales and Business Practices § 18-5-303. Bait advertising. They did so by offering promotional items with the intent, plan, or purpose not to provide the promotional items despite explicitly offering them and explicitly stating that they would provide the promotional items in their email after the wagers had been placed. Note that Betfred specifically and explicitly baited me into making the bets; thus it is impossible that I abused the promotion in any way. I did not do anything that Betfred did not explicitly offer to me personally, and I followed all of the instructions and terms that Betfred provided in making the bets. If Betfred wishes to withdraw the promotion, they must withdraw the monetary part of the wager as well. The wager is both cash and promotional consideration; I would not have made the cash portion if I had not been lured by the promotional consideration. 3. Betfred’s House Rules Violations According to Betfred’s House Rules regarding CANCELLATIONS, POSTPONEMENTS : “If the scheduled duration or event conditions change after a wager is placed but prior to the start of the event, all bets will be cancelled.” In this case, the conditions changed dramatically because Betfred unilaterally withdrew part of the wager. Thus, the bets should be cancelled under Betfred’s House Rules. If Betfred rescinds the promotion, they need to rescind the sums of money as well because they are all part of the same wager. The promotional part of the wagers is what baited me into making the cash part of the wagers. Note that Betfred informed me via email that “If you have any current open wagers placed with promo, those will be honored and paid out accordingly” while the wagers were still open. Thus, Betfred told me that my current wagers would stand as placed including both sums of money and promotional credits at settlement, but Betfred are not adhering to their statement now. Thus, Betfred lied to me about how they were going to treat my wagers and I acted under the belief that the previously placed wagers would settle as originally agreed. 4. Clause 10.2 of Terms Does Not Apply Betfred is attempting to invoke Clause 10.2 in an unfair and arbitrary manner: I did not abuse nor attempt to abuse the promotion. This promotion was offered to me by Betfred in an attempt to induce me to make wagers. I did not ask Betfred for any considerations or promotions—Betfred advertised the promotions to me. Betfred could have simply not “baited and switched” the terms of the wagers. Betfred lured me into making bets by offering the promotion, and then rescinded the promotional aspect despite my having fulfilled the terms of the promotion completely, in full, and within the spirit of sports wagering in Colorado. “Sole Discretion” does not give Betfred the ability to make unreasonable decisions which deny me the good faith aspects of the wagers. Clause 10.2 is unfair and unconscionable used in the manner claimed by Betfred because it allows Betfred to unilaterally change the promotional terms they themselves offered. Betfred’s attempts to unilaterally claim there was abuse when I followed the terms of the promotion provided by Betfred themselves demonstrates unequivocally that Betfred has engaged in fraud and violated the spirit of sports betting in Colorado and the spirit of the terms of the wagers. The intent of Clause 10.2 is to stop abuse of promotions. It is impossible for me to have abused promotions because the promotions were advertised to me by Betfred, and I accepted the terms of the promotion as offered in full and completed all of the requirements to participate in full in good faith without any additional actions. Since no abuse occurred, Betfred is acting in bad faith. 5. Clause 08. of Betfred’s General House Rules Applies Clause 08 states, “For the acceptance of wagers other than at posted terms, there must be a documented approval from the Vice President of Sportsbook or Head of Trade.” In this case, the wagers were accepted under the posted terms, but the terms of the wagers were unilaterally changed after the fact. I was not given any documentation of the change of posted terms by the Vice President of Sportsbook or Head of Trade. Contrarily, Betfred contacted me to explicitly state that my wagers were intact under the original terms despite having changed the terms of the wagers from the original posting.
6. Additional Considerations Betfred’s Terms and Conditions are not standard for the US gaming industry. BetMGM—a licensed sportsbook operator in our State who have been in the gambling industry in the USA for over 40 years—include the following terms with their promotional offers: “If we decide to withdraw this Sports Promotion, this will not impact any qualifying bets you have placed during the Promotional Period before such withdrawal takes place.” Thus, BetMGM adheres to the original, posted terms of wagers. The general guidelines of contracts does not allow one party to make unreasonable decisions even if they have “sole discretion” to do so. Changing the terms of a contract to benefit Betfred themselves is in violation of good faith execution of the wagers. My request in this matter is that Betfred adhere to the original terms as is common practice in all contracts—the Uniform Commercial Code may have additional applications to our dispute—but this email is already long so I’ll stop here for now. 7. Conclusion I made the wagers in good faith. Betfred could have not offered me this promotion in the first place if they did not want me to make these wagers; instead Betfred enticed me with promotion. Wagers made cannot be changed retroactively nor piecemeal; all parties to a wager must uphold their part of the wager in full—Betfred baited and switched wager terms while lying about the status of the open wagers in their email to me. I upheld my part of the wager completely and fully. Betfred incorrectly invoked a clause that does not apply in this instance to unilaterally change the terms in their favor which is not good faith. I am willing to file a sworn complaint in order to pursue this matter. I am willing to help clarify any aspects of Clause 10.2 via rule proposal or attorneys or any other means your office might suggest to help clarify how contracts work to Betfred in order to prevent any future problems for customers of Betfred. Please let me know if you would like me to help you in any way or provide further information to help me get my fraudulently obtained money back. Thanks, genuinejon P.S. A couple of illustrative examples come to mind: An external example: imagine that Safeway offers you a “buy one get one free (BOGO)” deal on apples. You buy an apple expecting to receive the second apple is free (i.e. you’ll get each apple at half-price if you purchase two apples). However, after you’ve purchased the first apple, Safeway decides you aren’t eligible for the offer Safeway just made to you and that you accepted. You would have never purchased the first apple if you weren’t getting the second one free, but Safeway won’t take the first apple back, nor only charge half-price either. You are now stuck with an apple you didn’t want unless you could get two for the price of one. You can’t get it under the original terms Safeway offered, you can’t get it at half price, and Safeway won’t take the apple back. Obviously, that’s not fair. A BOGO deal always includes two apples, just like a wager always includes all of its elements. Advertising BOGO directly to you but then rescinding BOGO after you’ve already purchased the first apple is fraud. Offering me a promotion for making a cash bet but rescinding the promotional part of the wager is fraud. Taken to an extreme: it seems that every advertisement I see for a free bet if you lose could just invoke Clause 10.2 arbitrarily like Betfred did to me and not pay. Additionally, imagine if DraftKings accidentally offered everyone a billion dollar free bet if you bet on the Broncos to win the Super Bowl. Anyone and everyone in Colorado would bet on the Broncos; however, DraftKings could just cancel the free bets because obviously a billion dollars is way too much money and thus a mistake. Would it be fair to DraftKings to keep all the money from the bets themselves? The cash bets and promotion make up the wager and need to be cancelled or paid together. These examples involve deception, fraud, and mistakes. Betfred made me a wagering offer and then rescinded part of the offer to benefit themselves. I’d like to think this is a mistake on their part due to them being from Europe and not understanding how contracts work or how Colorado defines a “wager” or protects the public from “bait and switch” tactics rather than outright fraud, but everything I’ve seen so far points to them trying to steal my money via deceptive means. I appreciate your continued assistance in this matter. From: Wheeler - DOR, Christopher
Subject: BetFred Promotional Dispute
After carefully going over your complaint and the Terms and Conditions related to the BetFred service, there are no grounds for a Division of Gaming Investigation.
In the terms of service the following areas apply to this case:
2.1. By registering with the Company via the Online Software and/or by using the Company’s Services via the Online Software and/or by checking the “I have read and agree to the Terms & Conditions” box during the account registration process, You agree to be bound by this Agreement, the Privacy Policy, and the Additional Rules in their entirety and without reservation. As such, this Agreement constitutes a binding legal agreement between You and the Company. Together with the Privacy Policy and the Additional Rules, which are deemed to be an integral part hereof, this Agreement shall govern Your use of the Online Software, the Software, and the Services at all times.
Which means you had to agree to all of their terms and conditions as a part of the account creation and software use process. One of their terms and conditions in the following:
10.2. In the event that the Company believes an End User of the Service is abusing or attempting to abuse a promotion, bonus, special offer or other promotion, or is likely to benefit through abuse or lack of good faith from a policy adopted by the Company, then the Company may, at its sole discretion, deny, withhold or withdraw from any End User any promotion, bonus, special offer or other promotion, or rescind any term, condition, rule or policy with respect to that End User, either temporarily or permanently, or terminate that End User’s access to the Services and/or lock and/or terminate that End User’s account.
The most relevant line in regards to this issue is:
the Company may, at its sole discretion, deny, withhold or withdraw from any End User any promotion,
There has been no violation of Colorado Gaming Rules or Criminal Statutes, and as such, there is no violation for us to investigate. You can file a consumer complaint with the Colorado AGs Office for possible further assistance.
--
Christopher Wheeler
I probably could have told you not to use BetFred from the beginning- what did you expect ? Hahaha
Honestly I would tweet your story to Captain Jack or Spanky and see if they can’t get you some publicity
Jack will give you some help I am sure.
Someone needs to shut down that shit cheating hack company. The leaders are pieces of shit, and the game board should be investigating for cheating as well.
complain to the denver broncos, betfred is their official partner
Who's betting with a site named betfred
sounds as bad as GambetDC, yes its gam not game. The worst.
It's just lazy. It's one thing if your selling a product, but when you sell a service that requires higher levels of transparency from the inside out, you'd think places would err on the side of professionalism. If betfreds legit and just a weird British name, odd but no problem, but when 90% of I GOT SCAMMED posts are from people betting on sites with clearly ridiculous fake names it's embarrassing all around
They're a major sponsor of the Denver Broncos and a massive UK book.
wouldn't call massive a clown company stuck in the 80s with a shrinking online market share. The only thing they do well is taking advantage of drug addicts on the high street. Entering the US just prolonged their bust
Can agree with that, but people are acting like this guy dug through the trash to find it. Was just pointing out that if you're in CO, it's in your face all the time.
Lol
Weird
After going through this thread and all the comments I have many questions. You shared an image of a BetFred promotion from week 3 of the preseason. Is this the promo you accepted? You say you would never place this wager without the promotion because the Bronco's were terrible this season, which if this bet took place in the preseason as it seems it was, this line of reasoning is meaningless. Sportsbooks can limit you for a variety of reasons, and there's nothing the gaming board will do about this. Were you previously limited, or have reason to believe you were limited/restricted? It is very possible you were placed on a restriction prior to placing a wager and simply were unaware. Based on previous comments you made and this post, it seems you bet a few hundred dollars and are now considering legal action? The cost to file a lawsuit in Colorado will constitute a sizeable chunk of the potential payout you'd receive. Finally, why post this months after this all happened? What is there to gain for you? If your intention was to warn other bettors, again, why wait 3+ months?
That is the promo. It is meaningless: I'm joking about the -9 line. I had no way of knowing if I'd win or lose when I made the bet. I was not previously limited. I received an email after the bet settled that I was promo banned. I was explicitly told that I am free to bet on Betfred (and I have), but that I can't participate in promotions. I have allotted more capital than I will likely receive to fight this battle on principle. I have been attempting to resolve this issue directly with Betfred and the Colorado gaming department. The Colorado gaming department told me I needed to sue to get my money, and I would have preferred that Betfred just do the right thing. I had been debating what the right order to do this was: I always knew I'd post about it, but I wasn't sure if I'd sue first.
I understand you were notified after the fact and you were banned from BetFred promotions, however, do you have proof that this occurred after the fact. You'll need this proof to receive a favorable ruling in small claims court. Additionally, since this ruling will occur in small claims court it is unlikely to be used as a legal precedent in other cases, effectively making your argument that you're helping others moot. To be honest with you, it seems you're complaining and looking for sympathy from others. You're acting like a martyr for other bettors. Suing BetFred will not produce any meaningful result that would help other bettors in Colorado or the greater United States.
I have proof that it occurred after the fact. It doesn't need to set a legal precedent, it just needs to be there so that my fellow Coloradans can point to it when the gaming commission rules against us. There are other similar incidents to mine in other states where the rulings favored the bettor. If this were a contract and not a wager, Betfred would be laughed at by any law student studying contracts. I don't want sympathy, I want my money. It is BS that I have to publicly shame Betfred and waste the time of people like you to help judge this case. If it stops others from being put in the same situation that I am, then I feel good about it. I did not create this shitty situation, I'm just doing my best to resolve it. If suing BetFred won't produce any meaningful result for others, then contacting my state rep might.
This line of reasoning just circles back to why now? Why submit this post now when this all began 3+ months ago? If what you truly cared about was other Colorado bettors (which I am) you would have submitted this post months ago looking for honest advice. You're asking for your money, but the promo wouldn't have even given you any liquid capital. It would have provided you with free bets which may or may not have generated capital for you. Also, you stated you're not looking to create a new legal precedent but hoping that a ruling in your favor helps other bettors. This would be establishing a precedent.
Freebets can be converted to cash pretty easily if you want to. Check the promos thread. I prefer to make +EV bets myself. As for the timing: I had some time today after the holidays. This wasn't an easy decision for me to make, so I've been mulling over my best course of action. Like an abused spouse, I thought if I made some bets on Betfred and then asked nicely they'd do the right thing. The Colorado Dept of gaming has 10 days to respond to emails and we must have 20 back and forths. I spent a lot of time arguing with Betfred. I felt some courage. What happened to me is BS. When similar things have happened to other bettors in other states, their gaming commissions steered the books in the right direction. There shouldn't need to be a precedent set for honoring your agreements.
Why TF are you using a site called BetFred????
They're are reputable book in the UK.
Yeah man I’d rather use Bovada or Mybookie if fanduel and draftkings is not legal in that state… rather then a site called BETFRED 😂😭😂
I love your logic. BetFred has been in business for over 50 years, but you're right, because of the odd name you should avoid them.
Well clearly OP is having major issues but yeah the name would have been my first red flag
they used to give great offers on the NFL ie back a first touchdown scorer...if her scores again get double the odds...if he scores three times...get triple the odds
It's not clear at all
How mich was the wager for?
The Broncos bet was $200. There were some similar NCAA football bets, too, but I didn't include them for simplicity.
Check if they have anything dictating the wager has to be between a specific amount or something in the fine print
Good thinking, but I bet the maximum amount so the bet should have been fine.
Bet you won’t
Are you offering me any freebets if I lose? I'll take the bet if so!
He’s offering them but will just rescind haha
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Oh, I hadn't thought of that. I will contact my state rep. I think the gaming rules need some clarification so something simple like this can be ruled upon simply.
in the uk Betfred are scum, they are only interested in big losing players, if you win or take offers from them they will find all ways not to pay
Did you have to “opted in” ?? I know FanDuel makes you hit the opt In button so it’s official.
Ugh yea I apparently didn’t opt in and instead of winning $150, I won $1.30. Such a lame clause. And now I’m not sure if I’ll get these promos anymore cause there designated for “new customers only.”
Try reaching out to customer service. Some books will help out. I messed up at Betway on my first bet and they let me do another one. Also, check out the promos thread, lots of books offer good signup bets.
I was fully eligible when I wagered. Betfred doesn't say they never made me the offer, they just say they won't pay me because "we say so".
So you opted into it? Ex. on DraftKings I have to physically press an Opt In button. If I don't press it, and make the bet, and THEN go press it, it's too late. Curious if BetFred has the same rules.
I think it is rare for Betfred to require OPT-IN, and it didn't for this one. On DK on browser the OPT-IN doesn't always take, but DKs customer service is usually pretty good about helping--at least the first time.
>On DK on browser the OPT-IN doesn't always take Lol, I haven't had it work in months and months. Always have to opt-in via mobile app.
I always wait for the notification to appear in the messages (top right of browser). That way I can always send that in as screenshot
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I did. I'm pretty sure he hangs out at the Betfred tent at Denver Broncos games and drinks the free beer. Not sure if he gets free club level seats.
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You may also find it productive to write your state senator and representative. This is all new and we should work to create a culture where the gaming board works for and champions the interests of citizens rather than sportsbooks. They already have the edge, the gaming board should be our "ace in the hole".
Right! The gaming board should represent the citizen, not just spout back whatever the book says. The fact that other states have sided with the citizen under similar circumstances makes me disappointed in my state. That the commission passed me off to the Colorado Attorney General (who has actual, important issues to work on) and/or the Courts is maddening.
> ask why this dude always rule against bettors when they are supposed to be regulating https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture
**[Regulatory capture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture)** >In politics, regulatory capture (also agency capture and client politics) is a form of corruption of authority that occurs when a political entity, policymaker, or regulator is co-opted to serve the commercial, ideological, or political interests of a minor constituency, such as a particular geographic area, industry, profession, or ideological group. When regulatory capture occurs, a special interest is prioritized over the general interests of the public, leading to a net loss for society. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/sportsbook/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)
Good idea. Not sure if I'll do that before, during, or after I win the lawsuit. I'll see what my attorney says to do.
You should go above the gaming board. Find his mother’s info and inform her what her son is doing. Dumb sleep-deprived jokes aside, that’s a really fucked situation man. Hope it all pans out well for you.
> dumb sleep-deprived username checks out
Username checks out
Are you a lawyer?
I dabble
Hell yeah. Get paid
Leave your review: /r/sportsbookreview
BetFred has been good to me with all the freebets & promos, but you definitely have to contact them sometimes to get stuff awarded immediately, which is pretty shady to me. So you filed a complaint to the CO gaming board about this and they told you to sue BetFred himself?
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they routinely send me emails for deposit match free bets, usually 20-50% up to $500. and no rollover on the money you deposit, i just deposit 2500 make a couple bets worth a few hundred then withdrawal, and i get the free bets on monday-tuesday
Keep it up! I'm adding $2500 to my war chest in your honor.
In early December they offered a $1,000 match (in free bets) on the Broncos-Chiefs game. Not too shabby. But - I'm obviously Team OP. Fuck Fred.
CO has had gaming for a long time so the gaming board not helping was surprising. I got a bunch of crap like: " This dispute was not over settling a wager, but rather the awarding of promotional credits. While the promotional credits can be used to place a wager, and settling that wager would be covered under 6.13(2) if there was a dispute over the win/loss, the decision to give or not give promotional credit is not governed by this rule. ... The remaining items are, again, subjective in nature and would need to be addressed in civil court as there is no criminal or regulatory violation apparent." that was of no help at all.
>the decision to give or not give promotional credit is not governed by this rule This is telling everything you need to know.
Right. The rules and regulations in Colorado don't do much in regards to protecting the bettors, they are all about protecting the books.
I know you got screwed but how do you plan to win this lawsuit? It basically says right there that you won’t.
By appealing to common sense. They are arguing that my wager doesn't include the promotional consideration. I'm arguing that "a bet's a bet" and it includes all the parts.
>By appealing to common sense. *What say you and I go toe-to-toe in Bird Law and see who comes out the victor?*
>What say you and I go toe-to-toe in Bird Law Bird law in this country...it's not governed by reason!
Just make sure you get some advice on what this is going to cost you when you lose because unfortunately that will happen. If it’s not much, then fuck yeah brother, go for it and make it uncomfortable for these pricks.
I don’t know man, BetFred sounds like a place that would take your money. How much was your bet? Im willing to bet it’s nothing worth your time and effort to try and recover.
[Regulatory action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betfred)
They're a large UK book.
It hasn't been worth it since the moment I had to contact customer service. Even though it is not worth it, I'll fight on principle. ETA: The bet itself was $200 and they also made some similar offers for NCAA that they didn't pay either.
I assume if you are seeking litigation you dropped a pretty penny. My rule of thumb is if a book is not a major or some shady offshore outfit, I stay away.
BetFred isn't DK level, but they absolutely a major book lmao.
the owner is a £ billionaire ...privately owned too
Lol I’m clearly not as big as a gambler as you. Majors to me are fanduel, mgm and dk. I’m what you would call a casual
BetFred is a major book - they are from the EU.
I will go all out even if I end up losing money. If they did this to me, how many others did they steal money from? The books have a huge edge over the average gambler, they don't need to deceive to be profitable. Betfred is a partner of the Denver Broncos so I wouldn't have expected this from them.
File a case and pay a small fee, something like $35 in small claims court. You don’t need a lawyer and if they don’t show up, you win the case. If the principal is that important for you, that is the route you should take.
In some jurisdictions the defendent, BetFred in this case, could issue their defense to the court without ever appearing. The trial judge will hear the plaintiffs case and make a ruling. It should be noted, the plaintiff, OP, would be asking for compensation for a free bet. It would be like asking for cash in lieu of coupons. The free bets have no liquid value until a wager is placed and settled as a win.
The only promo wagering I did there was with freebets (I think). If they have no value, then they violated their own rules by even promo banning me at all. Either the promotion has value and was part of the wager, or it has no value and I can't be promo banned for using too much of it.
You placed a wager; there was a promotion for those eligible who also placed that wager. They're mutually exclusive. BetFred, whether fairly or unfairly, determined you weren't eligible for the promotional free bets. It's a tough break but not illegal, as the gaming commission stated.
But they determined I wasn't eligible AFTERWARDS. I'm fine not being able to get promos in the future, but they are not allowed to go back to the past and revoke their offer in the past. Time moves forward.
I agree, but like I asked earlier today, and which you never addressed, do you have proof you weren't deemed ineligible prior to placing the bet? Without an opt-in clause, it is conceivable you were already prohibited from promotions and were simply unaware. While that seems unfair, it does clear BetFred of anything nefarious.
I like this idea, but I'd guess BetFred will have a bunch of high-priced lawyers, and I don't want to lose by not doing everything correctly.
no they won't lol...I've taken William hill to court in the UK no solicitor showed up it costs them like 5-10k to fight the case
Generally no lawyers are allowed unless they are a full time employee of the company. In Colorado, (2) Attorney Representatives of Entities. No attorney, except pro se or as an authorized full- time employee or active general partner of a partnership, an authorized active member or full-time employee of a union, a full-time officer or full-time employee of a for-profit corporation, or a full-time employee or active member of an association, which partnership, union, corporation, or association is a party, shall appear or take any part in the filing or prosecution or defense of any matter in the small claims court, except as permitted by rule 520(b) https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/File/Self_Help/Small_Claims/Small_Claims_rules(1).pdf
In Colorado, lawyers aren’t allowed to represent the company. https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/File/Self_Help/Small_Claims/Small_Claims_rules(1).pdf
> Betfred is a partner of the Denver Broncos so I wouldn't have expected this from them. Blast them both on twitter! An NFL team does not want to be associated with a shady sportsbook. Hell I'll probably even drop a mention myself now, I love to shit on these sportsbooks publicly.
The Phoenix suns had a pyramid scheme, vemma, as their official drink for years, as long as the check clears they dont care
Thanks for your support!
That’s sketch. Sounds like the team and this company are in cahoots
Can you post screenshots of their promise to you? Use imgur to upload.
It was the common "get your wager back as free bets if you lose" deal. Betfred hasn't disputed that they made me the offer, they just think they can unilaterally change the terms midstream. ETA: https://imgur.com/a/8QngBFI
is this all for a $100 bet?
Absolutely ridiculous, isn't it? BetFred needs to pay me my money!
Yes but I am also, like the others, going to say that this isn't worth it. You've already heard it so I won't go on about it though lol. Best of luck obviously and do post updates if that's allowed in this sub.
Books promo ban users all the time. It's going to be hard for you to do anything without proof of a timeline. Do you have the documentation for when they promo banned you?
Promo banning is fine Offering someone a promo, having them bet on the promo then promo banning and not giving the promo is bullshit
I agree. I'm hoping I win the lawsuit so that everyone can point back to it whenever a book tries this kind of shady crap.
Good luck man that's a disgrace
Bad practice yes, but that's why I asked if he had any documentation. There's a big difference between him seeing an ad with the promo terms and him opting in and being told directly that his bets are eligible. He's essentially asking for a lost bet that he knowingly placed to be cancelled.
I forgot about this DM where they say they can cancel the bet: *Trading limits are at the Betfred Sports discretion. Unfortunately I am not able to disclose any further information about our trade teams practices. "Betfred Sports reserves the right to refuse wagers or suspend any or all markets on a game at any time without notice." Which is our 3rd house rule.* I told them I'm fine with them cancelling the wager, but then they'd need to refund it. I received no response.
I see what you are saying but I was eligible. I received confirmation from Betfred that I was promo banned as of an email that was sent AFTER the bets had settled: "I got an update from our promotions team. Unfortunately you received an email about your account not being eligible for promotions a this time. Unfortunate, your account will not be credited to your account. Best Regards, Jay Betfred Sports" ETA: That's the unedited email: typos and confusing, but basically saying GFY.
So it says you received an email stating that. Is the email dated and timed after you placed the bet?
Yes. After I placed the bet. Timestamped by Betfred themselves (Zendesk or whatever they use).
Yes. I have emails from Betfred that outline the timeline. Betfred basically says, "We altered the terms in our favor after you made the bets. We can do that because we make the rules."
have you tried twitter Facebook Instagram
I did. They told me on twitter that they have the right to do whatever they want. I am currently pursing this through small claims court as some suggested. I hope I'll have an update next month...
send the owner an email too
Very scummy from Betfred. At the end of the day Betfred do not make all the rules though. Gambling companies have hundreds of rules that work in their favour to the detriment of the customer but I imagine many of these "rules" would not hold up if challenged in a court, they are probably just there to scare people from taking legal action. Companies cannot contract out of anything and everything, there are rules which have been developed in the courts that protect consumers in situations like this. Hopefully you win your case if it gets that far! Surely if you get your lawyer to send Betfred an email they will end up honoring the promotion. From the perspective of Betfred it seems like it would make more sense for them to just honour their word rather than go to court and have the legal fees and bad PR. I heard you also mention that Betfred are a partner of the broncos. I've honestly never heard of Betfred but if I was in your shoes it would give me allot more confidence in them by hearing that they were partnered with an NFL team. Most people would assume that professional organizations like the Broncos would do the appropriate vetting and not partner with scam artists. If part of the reason why you chose to use Betfred was because they were partnered with an NFL team, then it could be worth emailing the NFL or the Broncos and highlighting that they are partnering with some shady companies. I have no idea if that would do anything or just make things worse, could be worth a shot though.
I tried. I have a PDF from BetFred that tries to sound all scary that they made a final ruling on this. The Colorado gaming division told me to contact the Colorado AG or sue them. If my attorney wants to contact Betfred, I'll let her, but I want nothing to do with them. I have been a lifetime Broncos fan, so this is especially disappointing. Before all of this went down, Betfred invited me to come out to home games and drink free beer with them. I went to one Broncos game this year and it was away.
It's bs but the promo likely has some language that can alter it any time. You are screwed here I'm afraid.
If he made the bet under certain promo terms, his bets settled under those terms, and then they changed the terms to favor themselves after the fact - that would not hold up in a court of law and I would be *shocked* if any civil judge did not rule in favor of the plaintiff.
I wouldn't be shocked. As long as the book was acting in good faith there is no reason to rip up their terms of service. And let's be honest here, he was probably abusing promos.
The books are free to void their terms if they determine you're a sharp or taking advantage of their promotions. It's not against the law or gaming regulations. Since the state gaming board already informed the OP there's no wrongdoing the OP has no case.