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British bookmaker BetFred.com has refused to pay out on a 200/1 bet placed by Olympian Sam Oldham’s grandmother that he would win a medal at this year’s London Olympics. Oldham ended up winning a gymnastic team bronze medal representing Great Britain. The win was considered a major upset and the first in gymnastics for England in 100 years.
66-year-old Linda Aldred placed the £5 bet at odds of 200/1 just prior to the start of the London Olympics, claiming it was in loving memory of her husband Eric, Oldham's grandfather, who died in 2006 and "loved a bet".
When Ms. Aldred attempted to collect her £1,000, she was advised by BetFred.com that the bet was actually for an individual medal, not a team medal.
Aldred said: "I went back to the shop and I asked if my bet was finished and they said it was and the bet was void as Sam had won the medal as part of a team not as an individual. I was stunned."
She added: "I am really happy Sam won, it is more the principle than the money, but I could have used the winnings to pay for my ticket to see Sam at the 2016 Olympics in Rio."
Oldham’s grandma has now filed a complaint with the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) in hopes that BetFred.com will honor her wager.
A spokesman for IBAS said they could not comment on individual cases but said: "We have been handling a number of bets relating to athletics and the Olympics and they will be dealt with through the normal procedures."
A spokesman for Betfred said: "We are currently in discussion with IBAS and we hope to come to a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned."
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
