Family seek legal advice over lotto bets
Ann O’Brien and nine members of her extended family each placed two bets at a Ladbrokes shop half an hour before the draw took place in France.
Each bet predicted the numbers 1, 6 and 12 would be among the five numbers drawn.
However, Ladbrokes in Thomondgate, Limerick, was told by its head office in Dublin not to pay out the €15,000 in winnings, as the bets were invalid as they were made too late.
A disclaimer at the shop yesterday stated that any bets for the draw would be invalid after 7.30pm on the night of the draw.
Ms O’Brien, from Ballynanty, Limerick, said she and her party were not made aware of the disclaimer, and that the cashier accepted the bets on the night shortly after 8pm. The draw took place at 8.30pm.
“The number 1 and 6 represented my mother’s anniversary and the number 12 represented her house number. We’re really saddened by all this. We had gone to Mass for mum’s anniversary, and then we went out for dinner. During the dinner we decided to do the EuroMillions.”
However, the family’s joy turned to anger yesterday after Ladbrokes had told them their bets were invalid.
“Ladbrokes told us they’d give us our €2 back and they were insisting the bets were made after the draw was made, but the draw didn’t take place until 8.30pm Irish time, we’ve been told. I intend to seek legal advice,” Ms O’Brien added.
A spokeswoman for Ladbrokes head office in Dublin yesterday said that as far as she was aware, the bets had been placed after the draw last Friday night.
Hayley O’Connor added: “The bet was put on after the draw. So it’s not a valid bet. We’re not going to pay out on a late bet. Sometimes there can be discretion on sporting bets but, on a lotto bet — no.”
Despite Ladbrokes’ firm stance on the matter, Ms O’Brien and her family are not ‘backing’ down.
Staff at the Ladbrokes shop in Limerick yesterday had “no comment” on the matter.
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