HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THIS SITUATION ??? --- I AM IN AN ETHICAL BIND

DannyMay · Jan 26, 2004

I wont name the book because I feel that it will affect your position on this matter. If you like the book, you will say I am wrong. If you hate the book you will say I am right. Here is what happened to me -- AND THIS IS ALL 100% TRUE !!!!

Saturday morning I put in a play for $550. The line was a couple points off what most books had, but it was a total so that happens sometimes. It was a 1st Half line. I bet the under $550 to win $500. I then tracked the score at cbssportsline.com. Throughout the entire time, the score was very close to the total -- it could have gone over OR under until about 1 minute left at which time it became clear the UNDER was going to hit. It was at that time, and ONLY at that time that I recived an email from the book saying they were going to cancel my bet because it was a bad line. The time on the email was 1242, the game started at 1200 and it went to halftime at about 1247. It is clear that they waited to see that the UNDER was good before cancelling. I emailed them back my concern that it wouldnt have been cancelled if it went OVER. They offered me $25.

Last night I requested a withdrawal of my balance in full - today they sent my prepaidatm account the balance in full + an extra $400. They sent $400 more than my balance. Now they sent me an email explaining they made a mistake and saying I should send the $400 back.

What should I do ?

DannyMay · Jan 26, 2004

I feel that they owed me $475. ( $500 winnings - $25 they did pay me ). Now they owe me $75.

go2guy · Jan 26, 2004

Danny, it appears they took a shot at you and did in fact wait if you story is true. Phuck 'em if that's the case but if you want to sleep better at night find out if anyone else placed a wager on that game and see what they did with those.

Fishhead · Jan 26, 2004

DANNY-

If the total was indeed ony 2 points off as you say, then without the question your bet should stand!!!

That would stand up in an arbitration case!!

However, keeping the extra money they sent you would not be an ethical thing to do on your part.

They have the feeling that your bet should not stand and did not pay you and canceled your wager......however wrong that was of them.

Let an arbitrator hear your case and if they decide in your favor and then they do not pay........THIS WOULD BE A STAY AWAY BOOK AND SHOULD BE EXPOSED FULLY!!!

Good luck

Payton · Jan 26, 2004

There are two ethical questions here.

1.) It does appear from the time stamps you listed that they waited. So, their bad. Ethically, what they did was wrong.

2.) They overpaid you. You keeping money that is not yours is ethically wrong. However, you probably feel like you deserve that money since they canceled your bet late.

This is a toughie. If you keep the money, you should not bet there anymore. They may withhold future money/deposits claiming it's theirs anyway- and it will be a hornet's nest of problems. Then again, you may not want to since they canceled your bet.

Why don't you dispute the bet issue with them first, then discuss the overpayment. They are two unrelated, yet interesting, situtations.

Let us know what happens.

marc · Jan 26, 2004

If the line wasn't an obvious bad line, where you knew there was a chance it could be cancelled, then I'd keep the cash. I'd also send them an email explaining why you aren't going to return the money.

DannyMay · Jan 26, 2004

Go2guy,

Thats what I am thinking. The time on the email was 1242 and the game went to half at about 1247. They took a shot at me for sure. Books should be made to pay for their mistakes, the same as us gamblers have to. If I wanted to bet $50 on a game but accidentally bet $500, I couldnt wait until 1 minute is left and then say -- sorry I made a mistake I am cancelling the bet. We make mistakes - we eat the mistakes. If a book does make a mistake, and it isnt corrected before the game is over -- TOO BAD.

DarrylParsons · Jan 26, 2004

Hmmm, interesting situation. I agree the 1242 time is extremely suspicious. My position on this is very straightforward: If a book fails to cancel a bet before the start of a game, the bet stands, even if the line is ridiculous. The only exception might be if you placed the bet in the last minute and they cancel it in the first 2-3 minutes of the game.

If a book can't keep track of its lines and wagers, it should not be in the business. Lord knows I've made many a mistake, betting on the wrong team, betting a wrong amount, pressing a wrong button here and there, and I swallowed the pill whole each time. That's just the way it is. It's like the touch move rule in chess. Sometimes you slip but that's part of the game and you pay the price for each slip. Even if it's cancelled before the start, it needs to be an especially justified case but after the start there's no excuse at all.

Bottom line: Keep the money. They still owe you $100.

newton0038 · Jan 26, 2004

I'd still be after them for the other $75. They ****ed you over on a game and they expect you to give them back cash that they owe you. Nope not gonna do it. The player has the power of the forums.

DannyMay · Jan 26, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FISHHEAD:
DANNY-

If the total was indeed ony 2 points off as you say, then without the question your bet should stand!!!

That would stand up in an arbitration case!!

However, keeping the extra money they sent you would not be an ethical thing to do on your part.

They have the feeling that your bet should not stand and did not pay you and canceled your wager......however wrong that was of them.

Let an arbitrator hear your case and if they decide in your favor and then they do not pay........THIS WOULD BE A STAY AWAY BOOK AND SHOULD BE EXPOSED FULLY!!!

Good luck<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Fishhead,

It was off by 3 points or 3 1/2 depending on what other book you are using for comparison. Also, it was just a 1st half line. I know the points off are a lot, but the bet could have gone either way and they didnt cancel until they saw I had a winner. The bet was put in nearly 1 1/2 hours before the game started and it wasnt cancelled until there was 1 minute left.

DannyMay · Jan 26, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Payton:
There are two ethical questions here.

1.) It does appear from the time stamps you listed that they waited. So, their bad. Ethically, what they did was wrong.

2.) They overpaid you. You keeping money that is not yours is ethically wrong. However, you probably feel like you deserve that money since they canceled your bet late.

This is a toughie. If you keep the money, you should not bet there anymore. They may withhold future money/deposits claiming it's theirs anyway- and it will be a hornet's nest of problems. Then again, you may not want to since they canceled your bet.

Why don't you dispute the bet issue with them first, then discuss the overpayment. They are two unrelated, yet interesting, situtations.

Let us know what happens.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I couldnt bet there anymore. I have a balance reading of -399.25 now. I was not going to after what they did on Saturday morning.

DannyMay · Jan 26, 2004

Newton and Darryl,

I agree 100 %

peteep · Jan 26, 2004

Although it is not the ideal way to handle the situation, if, and only if everything you say is accurate I believe you should keep the money. I do however suggest you work with the book to go to some form of mediation and then if you are ruled against send back the money.

goldenpicks2003 · Jan 26, 2004

was it sirbet, No my fault there sportsbook is ok it is just their casino... Just kidding..

True i would just keep the money.... Why did they wait so long to cancel the bet><><><

lander · Jan 26, 2004

What should I do ?

Tell them that you started to send the $400, but cancelled when you saw they were going to collect it.

Then send them a memo saying - FU and offer to send $25 instead

Fishhead · Jan 26, 2004

DANNY-

Obviously they probably did have a wrong total up.

Having said that however, the possibility arises that many players may have bet the same line having NO IDEA if this were a bad line or not.

So your telling me a book just cancels every wager made by all players who played this line???

THAT IS BULLCRAP!!

In this case, the book in question should stand up an eat their SMALL mistake and move on.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT!!!!

YOU DESERVE TO BE PAID YOUR BET from what you have disclosed here.

lander · Jan 26, 2004

Oh, nevermind.

3.5 pts on a HT total???

Danny, the line was bad. Do the right thing.

Banned4Life · Jan 26, 2004

I would tell him to go shit in his hat and pull it over his ears, and then pull his lower lip up over the top of his head. And then remind him how God punishes bookies who take shots at their players.

You should name this book because it could be a sign that they're on the way to the airport, taking shots like this.

TheGeneral+ · Jan 26, 2004

Danny, if you want an arbitration 1st, then I will be happy to get involved. Shoot me an email. We can handle one issue at a time.

Good luck

DannyMay · Jan 26, 2004

GoldenPicks,

I sent them 3 or 4 emails asking why the bet wasnt cancelled until 1242. They never would answer it. The best I got out of them was " WE have credited your account with $25 to apologize for the error. ". I let it go because hell what could I really do, and I didnt want to post it on the forum when noone can make them pay if they dont want to.

I call what happened today KARMA. They have bad karma for screwing over who knows how many players Saturday Morning. When you are running a business, you should not be making so many dumb mistakes ( bad line ( supposedly), sending $400 too much, etc. ) If you are making these mistakes, you eat them and learn from it.

I agree with Darryl here. If they cancelled the play before it started or right after the start then that would be one thing. But this waiting 2 hours to cancel a play, and doing it only after the outcome is known is BS.