Vegas Bettor Accuses William Hill of Withholding $40K

Joel Moscatel Nachshon

A sports bettor from Las Vegas claims that William Hill, a sportsbook owned by Caesars Entertainment, denied him nearly $40,000 in winnings after he placed a successful bet on outsider Joel Moscatel Nachshon during the first round of the 2023 Australian PGA Championship.

According to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the unnamed gambler wagered $200 on Moscatel to win the round at +20,000 odds. At the time, Moscatel, ranked 1,162nd in the world, delivered a stunning performance, shooting a record-equaling round of 62, which included eight birdies in a bogey-free round.

Although Moscatel finished seventh overall in the tournament with an 11-under-par score, his exceptional opening round led the bettor to believe he had won $40,000.

Controversial Odds Adjustment

However, when the bettor attempted to claim his winnings, he was informed that the posted +20,000 odds had been a mistake. William Hill recalculated the bet at +400 odds, reducing his payout to just $800.

The reasoning behind such short odds for a relatively unknown player, ranked over 1,000 in the world, remains unclear. The bettor, dissatisfied with the explanation, has taken his grievance to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which recently heard both sides of the argument. A final decision from the Nevada Gaming Commission is pending.

The bettor also alleges that the winning ticket—worth $40,200 (including the stake)—had been in his William Hill account for five days before it was suddenly replaced with the lower-value ticket, without any explanation.

Terms and Past Issues

William Hill’s terms and conditions allow the company to correct any “obvious errors” in bets and settle them at the correct odds, subject to regulatory approval. This clause has sparked debate, especially in light of previous issues with the sportsbook.

In September 2022, William Hill faced a $100,000 fine from the Nevada Gaming Commission after a system glitch resulted in the duplication of around 55,000 bets, shortchanging customers by approximately $1.3 million.

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