A UK High Court judge has ruled that Corrine Durber, a gardener from Gloucestershire, is entitled to her full £1 million ($1.29 million) jackpot after Paddy Power refused to pay the amount, citing a technical error.
Durber secured the “Monster Jackpot” while playing the Wild Hatter game in October 2020. Her iPad displayed a prize of £1,097,132.71 ($1.41 million), but the gambling operator only transferred £20,265 ($26,164), claiming a software malfunction had incorrectly shown a larger win. She then sued PPB Entertainment Limited, which operates under Paddy Power and Betfair, for breach of contract.
Judge Rules in Favor of Player
Justice Ritchie ruled in Durber’s favor, concluding that the company must honor the amount displayed on her screen. He criticized Paddy Power’s attempt to shift responsibility onto the player, stating:
“When a trader puts all the risk on a consumer for its own recklessness, negligence, errors, inadequate digital services and inadequate testing, that appears onerous to me.”
Durber expressed relief at the decision, calling the win “life-changing.” Speaking to ITV News, she said: “Obviously, it will look after the children, from that we’ll pay their mortgages and we’re going to enjoy our retirement.”
The betting company argued that a display error had falsely shown the “Monster Jackpot” when Durber had actually won the smaller “Daily Jackpot.” However, the judge rejected this defense, emphasizing that customers expect displayed winnings to be accurate.
“Objectively, customers would want and expect that what was to be shown to them on screen to be accurate and correct,” he said. He also compared the case to a physical casino, where a player who bets on number 13 and wins would expect to be paid.
The court found that human error in software mapping had caused discrepancies, affecting 14 plays over 48 days.
A Paddy Power spokesperson responded: “We always strive to provide the best customer experience possible and pride ourselves on fairness. We deeply regret this unfortunate case and are reviewing the judgment.”
Durber, while celebrating her victory, questioned why the company forced her into legal action instead of honoring the displayed amount from the start.
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