Paddy Power Ordered to Pay £1 Million to Customer
A High Court judge has ruled that Paddy Power, a subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment, must pay £1,076,867.57 to Corrinne Durber, a bettor from Gloucestershire. The ruling concludes a five-year legal battle that began when Paddy Power refused to pay out a jackpot Durber won on its online platform.
The Disputed Jackpot
The dispute originated on October 18, 2020, when Durber hit a jackpot while playing Wild Hatter, an Alice in Wonderland-themed online slot. The game, which featured elements of a fruit machine and a wheel of fortune, displayed a jackpot of £1,097,132.71 on her screen. However, instead of receiving the full amount, Durber was paid only £20,265.24.
Paddy Power claimed the discrepancy resulted from a programming error, arguing that Durber had actually won the smaller Daily Jackpot prize. This justification led to a prolonged legal fight, as Durber contested the bookmaker’s refusal to pay her full winnings.
Paddy Power’s Defense
In response to Durber’s inquiries, Paddy Power maintained that a system malfunction had incorrectly displayed the higher jackpot amount. The company cited its terms and conditions, which allow for withholding payments in cases where technical errors influence game outcomes.
However, the refusal to honor the displayed jackpot raised broader concerns about consumer protection and trust in online gambling platforms. Legal experts noted that cases like this could undermine confidence in betting operators if players felt their winnings could be voided due to alleged glitches.
Legal Action and Industry Precedent
Determined to challenge Paddy Power’s decision, Durber sought legal assistance from Coyle White Devine, a law firm experienced in cases involving disputed gambling payouts. A key factor in her decision to pursue litigation was the precedent set by Andy Green’s case against Betfred.
In 2021, Green won a High Court ruling that forced Betfred to pay out £1.7 million in withheld winnings after the bookmaker similarly cited a computer glitch. The case demonstrated that courts could rule in favor of players when operators attempted to deny payouts based on alleged technical errors.
Drawing on this precedent, Coyle White Devine filed High Court proceedings on behalf of Durber on March 7, 2022, initiating the legal battle that would ultimately determine her entitlement to the full jackpot.
The ruling against Paddy Power marks another significant legal victory for bettors challenging withheld winnings in court.