Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
NJ Probes FanDuel Refusal to Pay $82K on Wrong Football Odds
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
September 19, 2018

Share

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — New Jersey gambling regulators are investigating whether FanDuel’s sports book should pay out more than $82,000 to a man who was given exorbitant odds for the Denver Broncos to win Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

“They said the system had a glitch in it and they’re not obligated to pay for glitches.” — Anthony Prince, Newark resident 
Anthony Prince of Newark made his bet and was handed a ticket at incredible 750-1 odds with about a minute left in the game, as the Broncos trailed by 2 points on their final drive. Denver kicked a field goal with 6 seconds left to win 20-19, capping a second half comeback that started with the Broncos down 12-0.
FanDuel says its system should have calculated his odds at 1-6, meaning a bettor would have to wager $600 in order to win $100.
Prince bet $110 on the Broncos but was stopped when he went to collect from FanDuel’s betting window at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“They said, ‘Oh, we can’t honor this ticket,'” Prince told News12 New Jersey, which first reported the story. “I said, ‘Why? This is fair and square.’ They said the system had a glitch in it and they’re not obligated to pay for glitches.”

Not Obligated to Pay out on an Obvious Error

FanDuel said in a statement that its system malfunctioned and it is not obligated to pay out on an obvious error.

“We honored all such bets on the Broncos to win the game at the accurate market price in accordance with our house rules and industry practice, which specifically address such obvious pricing errors.” FanDuel statement
“A small number of bets were made at the erroneous price over an 18 second period. We honored all such bets on the Broncos to win the game at the accurate market price in accordance with our house rules and industry practice, which specifically address such obvious pricing errors,” FanDuel said in its statement. “We have reached out to all impacted customers and apologized for the error.”
How the matter is handled could have far-reaching effects on the budding sports betting industry in New Jersey at a time when new sports books are opening in some other states and lawmakers throughout the country consider whether to also jump in for the potential tax revenue. New Jersey challenged a federal ban and won a U.S. Supreme Court decision in May that cleared the way for gambling on games to expand beyond Nevada.
The idea that player money and winnings would be protected and regulated by the state has been a major selling point among sports betting supporters who contrasted legal gambling with shady offshore betting sites where players often have little recourse in disputes.

Gambling Regulators Also Have Policies in Place

But gambling regulators also have policies in place to void obvious errors in sports bets.
David Rebuck, director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, said the agency is investigating whether there are grounds to compel FanDuel to pay Prince the stated payout of $82,000. He added the agency is looking “just as importantly @ how it occurred given internal controls exist to prevent such an error. Those findings might also result in the need for further action.”
FanDuel’s operation just a few miles from New York made $3 million in its first full month in August and quickly became the most popular sports book in New Jersey.
FanDuel declined to say how many bets were made at the incorrect odds.
Prince said FanDuel offered him $500 and some tickets to future New York Giants games, adding he should take the offer because they’re not obligated to give him anything.
“I said, ‘Wow, for real?'” Prince said. “You’d rather go to the corner bookies now; you’re not getting paid here.”

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Seahawks Aim to Reignite Ground Game Against Rams After Recent Struggles

UP NEXT

Where Have the Top Transfers in College Basketball Landed?

UP NEXT

49ers Seek to Shake off the Super Bowl Hangover in the Second Half of the Season

UP NEXT

Dodgers Celebrate World Series Win, Look to Repeat With Ohtani’s Return to Pitching in 2025

UP NEXT

Bulldogs’ DB Cam Lockridge Is Ballin’ Out, Has Sights Set On NFL

UP NEXT

Rams Brace for Reunion With Former Star LB Ernest Jones as Seahawks Matchup Looms

UP NEXT

Cavaliers Blow Out Lakers as Bronny James Scores First NBA Points

UP NEXT

Yankees Star Shines and Stumbles in World Series Loss

UP NEXT

World Series: Freddie Freeman Wins MVP Award After Tying Record With 12 RBIs

UP NEXT

Los Angeles Sees Bus Burned, Store Thefts and Rowdy Crowds After Dodgers Win World Series

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

3 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

4 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

16 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

17 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

17 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

17 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

17 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

17 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

17 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

18 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

2 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

2 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

3 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

4 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

16 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

17 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

17 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend