Industry SP/Bookies SP

[Cymro]

I’m no doubt being very naive here, but on Saturday I backed Coole Cody in the Racing Post Gold Cup at Cheltenham. I took 11/1 with Betfred in the morning, Best Odds Guaranteed. It was returned the 12/1 winner, but Befred paid me out at 11/1, as in their words “12/1 may have been the industry SP, but bookmakers can offer their own SP, and we have it down as finishing at 11/1”. I only had £5 e/w, hence the difference was “only” £6, but it was the principle. I’ve never seen this before, although as I say, I could be very naive in posting this.

[Father_Jack]

Absolute twaddle.

Baldy clearly needs the £6.

[Cork All Star]

Agree, complete twaddle.

I have to laugh whenever I am in a Betfred shop on a Saturday morning and Uncle Fred is there on screen, answering questions from a couple of flunkeys who fawn all over him as he generously instructs them to push a horse out from 11/4 to 3/1. But only for the next ten minutes.

[cormack15]

What does it say in their rules/terms? How do they define ‘SP’?

[apracing]

At a guess, you fell foul of this clause from their rules for BOG:

“Offer does not apply to Win and Each Way bets on Super Extra Place Races highlighted in the race book.”

Can’t check it, but seems likely they would have had something like an offer for four places on that race.

[Cymro]

I’m not sure, Cormack. However, linked it to this in their reply was the “you agreed to this when you registered” line from the customer service operative. Defeatist of me I know, but arguing with a bookie feels like arguing with a firm like Sports Direct or Ryanair. Pointless.

I’m not a regular to the Betfred website – maybe that’s the rub here – but do find the subsequent Rewards For Racing points to be a handy benefit. This is the only reason I’ve kept the account open. On the other hand, despite not being either a big or particularly successful punter, I’ve recently had three bookmakers – 888Sport, Betway and Unibet – rescind all promotions from my account, such as Best Odds Guaranteed, free bets, boosts (Unibet) etc. No reason was given whatsoever. I never take it out on the member of staff relaying the message, but it really annoys me. It’s most definitely a one-way street with some bookies, where they suddenly go cold on you for whatever reason. In the case of these three, I threw my toys out of the pram and closed my accounts. Cloak-and-dagger communication skills really grate on me.

[Cymro]

Thanks AP, I hadn’t realised that. I guess the contrary argument to that is that my horse won, so I didn’t profit from the extra place. I could understand it a little more had my horse finished in the extra-place position, i.e. 4th or 5th usually.

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