How do I resolve a dispute with a bookmaker?
There are, at present, no statutory regulations to enforce the payment of gambling debts or to determine the validity of a particular bet (although this issue is being considered as part of the Gambling Review). The Government, therefore, has no legitimate grounds to intervene. It is an issue between the parties involved in the wager.
In the event that a punter feels that they have been treated unfairly, they can contact the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS) at PO Box 4001, London E14 5BB. Or by phone on 0207 529 7670 or through their website.
The Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS) was launched in November 1998. It offers an independent non-statutory arbitration service to settle betting disputes. The Service is supported by the main industry trade associations. It is free of charge to customers of bookmakers who are registered with it. Bookmakers in this scheme have to declare their intention to assist IBAS in any investigations and to abide by its decisions.
Failure to abide by such a decision would mean that the bookmaker had not honoured his obligations under the scheme and magistrates might wish to consider whether there were implications for the fit and proper test for renewal of the permit. Conversely, it would be reasonable to expect that if someone seeks to oppose the renewal of a permit on the basis of an unresolved betting dispute they should already have sought remedy through the IBAS arbitration process.
