UK: Punter's winnings dwindle from $12 million to $55

British bookmaker Ladbrokes is refusing to pay out more than £7 million ($12 million) to a man who gambled on a white Christmas across Britain, as the bet was accepted by mistake.

Cliff Bryant, 52, had placed two £5 accumulator bets that snow would fall on 24 towns and cities across the north of England on Christmas Day.

"We have apologised to the customer for any confusion and for mistakenly accepting an accumulator bet when our own rules state that only single bets are available on a market of this nature," a Ladbrokes spokesman said.

"We are happy to void the bets and to pay the customer his winnings on the relevant singles."

However, they amount to just £31.78 ($55), rather than the £7.1 million Mr Bryant was expecting.

The graphic designer from Southampton, who told the local Southern Daily Echo newspaper he was "gutted" and would seek legal advice, claims the first accumulator would have won him £4.9 million, with the second adding £2.2 million.

"If I make a mistake in my work like that it costs me dearly and I think the offer should be a lot more generous than they have made," he told the paper.

Ladbrokes should have made its rules clearer, he added.

"They are one of the leading bookmakers in the country and I think they ought to do their homework a bit better in future."

Ladbrokes gave Mr Bryant details of the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS), an impartial adjudicator on disputes that arise between gambling operators and their customers.

Danny Cracknell, a manager of the IBAS, said that Mr Bryant had been in contact and it would be investigating the issue once he had completed the relevant forms.

LNK

UK: Punter's winnings dwindle from $12 million to $55

UK: Punter's winnings dwindle from $12 million to $55

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