After a fraught three years of legal action to claim his fair winnings, Betfred blackjack player Andy Green now has all the time in the world to count out his life-changing jackpot of £1.7m (US$2.34m/€1.96m).
Three-years-ago Betfred refused to pay the 54-year-old punter from Washingborough, Lincolnshire and claimed his massive online win was the result of an operating gremlin.
But this week the High Court ruled that Green should be paid his winnings. And at the end of the epic dispute, Betfred has conceded defeat and confirmed it will not appeal the decision.
Green will receive the full payout – and interest.
Speaking outside the court, a relieved Green, who has suffered four heart attacks, said: “I have been through some very low times and become very down.
“My physical health has suffered badly and I sometimes wished I’d never won this money because it was just making my life a misery.
“But today I feel like the world has been lifted off my shoulders and the champagne can finally come off ice.”
Green won the jackpot in 2018 while playing Betfred’s “Frankie Dettori Magic Seven Blackjack” game.
But days later Betfred told Green there had been a software malfunction and refused to pay his once-in-a-lifetime prize. Instead, they offered him a relatively derisory £60,000 (US$82,442/€69,155) to settle the dispute and keep silent.
Betfred claimed the programming error was covered under the game’s terms and conditions.
Green had started his blackjack game with a £100 stake. He almost lost it all but then hit a £10,600 bonus. His winnings kept doubling until they hit the magic £1.7m, now grown with interest, to £2m (US$2.75m/€2.31m).
It would appear that a chastened Betfred has met its Mr Green.
