Do I Have Cause For Complaint?

[DAC]

Back in September I placed a bet on the Magners League (Rugby Union) with Skybet. It was handicap bet for the league title. I took the Newport Gwent Dragons at 9-1 with a 28 point head start. My Bet clearly states "Dragons +28 PointsTo win Celtic League - Outright"

Each team in the league was awarded scratch or + points in the bet, for example the Ospreys were 9/2 with +2 points....Edinburgh 6/1 with +8 points etc, etc.

I hope I'm making this clear.....

Anyway, the Dragons did indeed win the league with a 28 point head start so I was looking at a nice payout. Wrong, when I phoned up to ask why I hadn't been payed they told me that Glasgow had in fact won the league with their handicap start. "But I didn't bet on Glasgow (they were 25/1) to win the league I bet on the Dragons and they won with their handicap" I said . I didn't get any joy from a very impolite customer service.

Do you think I have cause to complain? Do you think Skybet misreprensated their offer? Surely if they were going to run this then each team should have been the same price with different handicaps not each team being differently priced with different handicaps.

At the end of the day, as my bet states, Dragons won the league with a 28 point head start.

What do yout think?

[georgej]

What was the Glasgow handicap?
And how did their points finish compared to Dragons?

[DAC]

Thanks for the reply.

I can't remember their exact handicap but it was higher than the Dragons and also a higher price.

[AJ]

everyone gets their handicap added on, the team with teh most points wins, in this case I'm sure it's glasgow.

Think of it like a golf handicap, a guy may play off zero, you off ten and another twenty,

player a scores 70
you score 76
player C scores 78.

Player C wins.

[georgej]

Hmmm

Only reason i ask - If Dragons points + 28 handicap is higher than Glasgow points + their handicap; then i say you are right.

Are they saying that Glasgow are the winners as their handicap is higher???

[DAC]

I see, but my bet clearly stated "Dragons +28 Magners League Outright"

Which was of course the case.

[DAC]

Originally Posted by georgej

Hmmm

Only reason i ask - If Dragons points + 28 handicap is higher than Glasgow points + their handicap; then i say you are right.

Are they saying that Glasgow are the winners as their handicap is higher???

Yes, I think so. But I've been under the impression all season long that if we won with 28 point head start (made it by 2 points!!) I would win my bet.

[PAULM03]

Originally Posted by DAC

Yes, I think so. But I've been under the impression all season long that if we won with 28 point head start (made it by 2 points!!) I would win my bet.

If you read the rules on these handicap markets they usually state that you must win after EVERY side has had their handicap applied. It's a standard thing.

[Paul Ross]

Yeah the handicap is taking on everyone DAC, not just the winners score.

So, I'm sure Skybet haven't done you here, sounds like you came 2nd on the handicap, which is unlucky.

[DAC]

Thanks for the replies gents.

I've just had it in my head all season that if we won by 28 I'd be a happy man as my bet purely said "outright" - t'was quite a hefty return I was expecting....

....as it turns out I have no cause for complaint. I do feel rather stupid as i'd backed other teams to protect that 28. Oh well, lessons learned etc, etc....thanks.

[DeepBlueDevilFish]

Yes like a number of people have said above you need to note down the handicaps for all the competitors when doing one of these bets otherwise you'll not know for sure whether or not the bookie has made a mistake. Suspect everything is OK unfortunately for you on this occassion DAC.