Australian Questions

[Bob]

I am in the midst of a terrible dispute with Centrebet. I've had a couple of problems since they went to their new system, but the most recent I find quite extraordinary.

Has anyone else noticed problems there? And what's the best way to seek resolution...through the Racing and Gaming Authority, or some other method? Is their an Australian Bettorsworld?

[AussieVamp2]

No Australian Bettorsworld, no.

Centrebet I have found to be incredibly rigid on rules, etc., in any dealings I have had with them, so problems/disputes you should take up with the relevant authorities.

That is what they are there for.

[Cons]

Can you provide details of the nature of the dispute? If others have had similar problems then it might be easier to find a solution...

[Bob]

I made a play with Cleveland last night for substantial amount about 20 minutes before game time.

I got a betting confirmation number and the wager was listed as "pending" awaiting acceptance or rejection.

The game went off and Cleveland scored 3 runs in the top of the first inning, but my wager was still listed as "pending".

About an hour into the game, with Cleveland still up 3-0 and my wager still "pending" I emailed them and expressed concern about what was going on.

Within a couple of minutes my wager switched from "pending" to "rejected, game already started"

I was furious and called Centrebet who said they were having computer problems and had missed my wager sitting there.

No amount of flabergast on my part seemed to
faze the woman I was dealing with.

I think it is completely unethical to wait until a game is half over to decide whether to accept or reject a wager...and very self serving to rule in your own favour. It is clear from their own documentation that my request came in well before game time. The line on Cleveland was good -200...but not way off.

Whether this was human error or computer error on their part....it was an error on their part and they are having me pay for it.

I have made several hundred wagers there over the last couple of years and never once had a problem. Now they are making me go through this giant dispute resolution with the Gaming Commission, while I sit here on the other side of the planet....and to me this situation isn't even a close call.

I am very disappointed in them.

[AussieVamp2]

yep, that is them

if something is pending and does not go through for some reason, tough luck for you - have not had this happen on a loser though to see what happens then - has anyone else?

[AussieVamp2]

have even had the situation happen like this, and emailed them about it and a - sorry, we didn't get the email, which of course I had copies of - and these are our rules, blah, blah, blah

obviously, with me, we aren't talking about much money there - again were winners, not losers, unfortunately - or was it?

be interesting to hear how you get on

[Fred]

I've never been ripped off by a book but i get pissed when i hear about it happening to anyone.

The power of betting forums such as this is significant. Respect is won and lost by sportsbooks -- depending upon their actions (same goes for players).

It's unacceptable for a book to have a bet pending 'in limbo' from pre-game to after a game starts. There is the obvious problem of them being able to potentially accept losing wagers and reject winning ones but also while the bet is put on an extended 'pend' the player is also left wondering 'should i bet this game somewhere else to make sure i've got action' less they risk having no bet at all.

Good point AV2 -- it would be great to see some evidence that Centrebet has let this happen to losing bets.

Good luck Bob and keep us informed.

Stuff like this is worth making some noise about.

[Fred]

Imagine if the player could back out of any bet after it was placed!!

Most places a bet is a bet. Accepted or rejected within seconds. Neither party has the right to back out after a bet has been placed.

Centrebet give themselves the luxury of be able to back out of what should be a done deal. Maybe the line movement after the wager is placed would make it advantageous for them to back out or maybe the game has started like in Bob's case!

GET REAL!!!

[AussieVamp2]

Centrebet manually approves stuff, I think, or at least some of it - fair enough when you take the bet sizes they do, I guess

[AussieVamp2]

and they are also currently down!

[sportshobby]

Bob, I don't blame you for being upset. Did you try and call at post time to get it resolved? I know I wouldn't want to have a game in progress with a status of "pending". It would open up the possibility that someone would take advantage of me.

On the other hand, let's assume that it was just an oversight. What should they do? The fact is, you did not have a bet when the game started.

[Cons]

Yeah, I've heard that Centrebet manually accepts wagers, which is quite different to all the places I play at where the wager is automatically accepted.

They are solid and there's no question about them paying, but things like these are totally unacceptable. I know someone who also had a problem with their system in the past, so this is not the first time they (or their software) have disappointed.

[AussieVamp2]

yes, they are very popular because of what they offer - lots of soccer and a large scandinavian client base which they cater to - but their technology could not keep up, and they have just redone it - seems fast enough now, but weird errors like leaving out parts of betting options etc., were happening, and they were again down at crunch time yesterday

[Bob]

Aussie, I meant to ask about that. I noticed on some of their tennis matches they were only offering one side. I wondered whether this was some strange new way to balance their action, or whethertheir new system was just screwed up.

Sometimes I think they've changed policies and are not as friendly to wagers as they used to be and sometimes I think they're just all tangled up in their new equipment. What's your opinion?

And btw, does anyone have a phone number for the Gaming Commission...all I can get so far is a mailing address.

[AussieVamp2]

my opinion is that it is a technological screwup, if you ring up you'd be able to get it I am sure