October 22, 2024 3 min read

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Fact-checked by Velimir Velichkov

Las Vegas: Gambler Battles William Hill for $40K Unpaid Winnings

Although the gambler won a longshot wager, the sportsbook argued that due to a mistake in the odds, he was to receive $1,000 and not the $40,200 he was initially promised

Longshot wagers can be incredibly rewarding given the right odds and the bettor predicts correctly the outcome of the sports event. While some longshot wagers can pay out thousands with a bet that is in the hundreds, sometimes a mistake in the odds may result in an unpleasant surprise for bettors. This is exactly what happened to one seasoned Las Vegas gambler recently.

The Gambler Was Told They Won $1,000, Not $40,200

The peculiar case involved a gambler who placed a $200 bet on the golfer Joel Moscatel Nachshon to win the 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship’s first round. The longshot wager was placed with William Hill Sportsbook at +20,000 odds, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Although it was a big risk, the bet paid off, considering that Nachshon came out in first place for the first round, despite finishing seventh upon completion of the tournament.

After winning the longshot bet, the gambler was happy to see that his account showed a $40,200 win. However, a problem arose once the Las Vegas bettor tried to cash the wager he won. When he attempted to cash the $40,200 he won, the man was reportedly told by William Hill that there was an error in the odds regarding his wager. Due to this error, the gambler was told he was entitled to only $1,000 and not the $40,200 that he saw on his account and betting slip. The Las Vegas man was also told that the odds were not +20,000 but +400.

There’s a mismatch in the total payout regardless of which option is selected. This is because a $200 bet at +20,000 odds would result in a payout of $4 million, while at +400 odds, the payout would be $80,000. This suggests that a winning cap is likely implemented.

The Bettor Disagreed with the Betting Operator’s Position, Filed a Dispute with the State Regulator

Despite what he has been told, the gambler wouldn’t let things go that easily. This is why he reportedly described his dispute with William Hill during a recent hearing with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

During the hearing, which was held Thursday, a representative of the sports betting operator was present as well. Supporting his case, the bettor said that he saw the $40,200 winning amount in his account for several days before attempting to cash it out. He also pointed to the odds presented to him when placing the wager.

In contrast, William Hill pointed to its terms and conditions regarding “obvious errors” in odds. The betting operator admitted that it didn’t cancel the wager because of the mistake in odds but rather amended the payout. Such potential changes are described in the terms and conditions and are applicable in cases where odds have been mistaken such as this one.

Still, the case isn’t over as after the hearing it will be up to the Nevada Gaming Commission to decide on the outcome.

Journalist

Jerome is a welcome new addition to the Gambling News team, bringing years of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry begun after he graduated from college where he played in regular local poker tournaments which eventually lead to exposure towards the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now puts all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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