Bettor cries foul over PlayNow odds turnover

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This article was published 26/05/2021 (1640 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg Jets fan’s joy was mixed with a feeling of being cheated, when Kyle Connor scored in triple overtime Monday to win his team’s NHL playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers.

“It was the sickest feeling I’ve ever had watching a team that I love,” said Leo Dame, his voice bristling Tuesday.

Early Saturday, when the Jets were up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, Dame bet $441.70 at 3.75 odds that the Jets would win the series on PlayNow.com, a sports betting website operated by British Columbia Lottery Corp., in partnership with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. 

That’s a potential payoff of $1,656.38 — and one Monday’s win (following Sunday’s overtime victory) would’ve stuffed in Dame’s wallet.

Dame claimed he wasn’t notified by PlayNow that his bet had been cancelled.

MLL released a statement Wednesday that said the issue affected 17 players in Manitoba.

“It was unfortunate that the odds initially posted on PlayNow.com for the Winnipeg / Edmonton NHL playoff series were incorrect. The odds were posted incorrectly on Friday, May 21 after game 2 of the series was completed and were revised, less than three hours later, as soon as the error was identified. 

“PlayNow identified 17 players from Manitoba who had placed bets with the incorrect odds and notified them by email at 2:42 p.m. on Saturday, May 22 to let them know that their related bets would be void and their accounts refunded the amount they had wagered. As PlayNow issued the player notification more than 24 hours before the start of Game 3 in the Winnipeg / Edmonton series on Sunday, May 23, players had ample time to make a new bet using the updated odds.” 

Dame said when he discovered Saturday what had happened, he called PlayNow’s customer service line. He spent four hours trying to get through to an agent who was, he said, “clearly dumbfounded about why the bets were cancelled.”

After bouncing back and forth between service agents, Dame said he heard one say, “Oh my God, we’re going to have to send an email or something.”

Hours later, Dame said he received an email from PlayNow support.

“We had an error last night in which the Winnipeg Jets/Edmonton Oilers series prices were on site for betting at incorrect odds. The ‘series winner’ market odds displayed on site were 3.75 for the Winnipeg Jets, however, the correct odds at the time were 1.22. As a result, we have voided selections that were placed on the incorrect odds of 3.75, as per section 19 of our rules and regulations.” 

Dame was unsympathetic.

“I’ve actually clicked the visitor instead of the home by accident, and you can’t get out of it. Tough luck,” he said.

If bettors are strung up for their mistakes, it’s unfair for PlayNow to nullify its own, he said. 

MLL said PlayNow played by the rules. 

“While PlayNow regrets that posting these incorrect odds may have been upsetting to some players, PlayNow reserves the right to void bets and refund players wagers when such errors occur. These type of rules and regulations are not unique to PlayNow but are common practice for all gambling websites,” the statement said.

Dame said he knows he’s likelier to lose money than win it, so it stings when his winnings (as he sees it) are not honoured — especially at a government-run operation.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca