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Search forBristol gambler fights Ladbrokes over Man Utd 'treble' bet
Monday, November 17, 2008, 15:26
Royston Thomas thought he had hit the jackpot when he staked £500 that Manchester United would lift three trophies in the 2007/2008 season at odds of 40-1.
But Ladbrokes refused to pay out, claiming that the Community Shield was not a recognised trophy, and said that the Premier League title, FA Cup and Champions League represented the treble.
Now Ladbrokes have relented and paid Mr Thomas, 54, from Honey Garston Close, Hartcliffe, £10,000 as well as his original £500 stake - but Roy is still not happy.
Mr Thomas is still threatening to sue for the remaining £10,000 having already spent most of his winnings.
Ladbrokes told the Bristol Evening Post they considered the matter to be closed.
Mr Thomas spent £2,500 of his payout on a 10-year-old van with the hope of getting a courier job, but remains out of work.
He says he spent the rest on clothes and other essentials and now has just £2,000 left.
The 57-year-old, who has been betting since he was 18, insists he still plans to take Ladbrokes to court.
He said: "As far as I'm concerned, I had a valid bet and Ladbrokes still owes me £10,000. This was never a bet on United winning the Treble.
"I had to take the money they offered me because I was really struggling and I've already spent most it.
"If my bet wasn't legal then Ladbrokes wouldn't have paid me any money at all, so I know I'm in the right.
"It's not my fault that they didn't specify the Community Shield wasn't include when I made the bet."
Mr Thomas made the £500 bet over the phone on August 2 last year and claimed at no stage was he told of any conditions about which trophies would count.
The Community Shield – formerly the Charity Shield – is the traditional start-of-season curtain-raiser played every August between the winners of the FA cup and the League.
Last August at Wembley, Manchester United triumphed over rivals Chelsea 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Mr Thomas believed the prize for winning the one-off match would count towards his bet.
Manchester United clinched their 17th Premier League triumph – and seventh in 10 years – with victory at Wigan on May 11 before again beating Chelsea on penalties in the Champions League final in Moscow, after the scores were level at 1-1 after extra time.
He called Ladbrokes following that match, expecting to be paid the £20,000 windfall.
Mr Thomas was offered his £500 stake back, as well as a "small remuneration" for the confusion, but he refused to accept it.
He took the matter to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS), which arbitrates between bookies and their customers.
Following this, Ladbrokes offered him £10,500, which he accepted.
He added: "I needed the money to help set myself up in business, but I'm still out of work because it turns out that the van I bought was too old to do a courier job.
"The money was not offered in full and final settlement and I did not accept it as such, so I will now be taking further legal advice."
Ladbrokes admitted there had been some "confusion" over Mr Thomas's Manchester United bet.
A spokesman said: "A substantial payment has been made to Mr Thomas and as far as we're concerned the customer is happy with the outcome."
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