General Rules for Sports Betting

Introduction to Rules

We pride ourselves on our customer service and our commitment to operating our business fairly and in a responsible way. All transactions and bets placed with Ladbrokes are covered by our rules. Changes to our rules will be communicated to you on our website.

You must exercise your own judgement in choosing to place a bet. You acknowledge that, in placing your bet, you are not relying on any statement of any employee of Ladbrokes relating to the subject matter of the bet. The terms of your bet may only be varied by oral or written notice given by an authorised representative of Ladbrokes. Ladbrokes reserves the right to refuse part or all of a bet.

General Rules cover all sports, but are superseded by any rules specific to individual sports.

"All In" or "All in Play or Not"

"All in" or "All in play or not" markets are markets that have been priced up to reflect the fact that the selection may not take any part in the event. Therefore if your selection does not play, or take part in the event, your bet will stand as a loser.

Acceptance and Validation of Bets

Late bets

Bets can only be placed on the outcome of a future event or race, unless we are offering special ‘betting in-running prices’ for that event or race. If Ladbrokes mistakenly accepts a bet for an event that has already started then the bet will be void and your stake returned, except in the following circumstances:

Where bets are taken after the start of an event, bets will stand if nothing has happened which would significantly alter the chances of the selection winning or losing.
In the case of football matches, bets will be valid if they are placed within five minutes of kick-off, providing there has been no score in the match or no player has been sent off. If a player has been sent off or there has been a goal, or a penalty has been awarded but not yet taken, then the bet will be void and the stake returned.

All bets placed after the result of an event is known will be void win or lose.

Late Bets via Internet Betting

Internet bets include bets placed on any of our remote channels such as Digital TV and WAP. In the case of such bets, the bet is struck when a bet id or receipt exists in our back end systems or database.

In the case of Horse Racing, we would allow a horse bet to stand (win or lose) if only a small part of the race had elapsed and if no significant event had occurred, such as a horse falling or refusing to race.

Late Bets in our Ladbrokes Shops

In the case of horse races, where our EPOS systems record an automatic “no more bets time”, if a bet is taken after the start of an event it will still be valid if it is placed before the automatic “no more bets time”. For horse races of less than one mile, the automatic “no more bets time” is set at 10 seconds after the actual start of the race. For horse races of a mile or greater, the automatic “no more bets time” is set at 20 seconds after the actual start of the race. Please note, for customers betting in shops in Ireland on races of 2 miles or greater the automatic "no more bets" time is set at 30 seconds after the actual start of the race.
In the case of dog and virtual races, where our EPOS systems record an automatic “no more bets time”, if a bet is taken after the start of an event it will still be valid if it is placed before the automatic “no more bets time”. For dog and virtual races, the automatic “no more bets time” is set at 2 seconds after the actual start of the race.

Account Corrections

Ladbrokes has the right to recover from you any amount overpaid and has your authority to adjust your account to reflect the true outcome and rectify the mistake. An example of such a mistake might be where a price is incorrect Acceptance and Validation of Bets) or where we enter a result of an event incorrectly.

Ante Post Bets

Ante Post bets are accepted on the basis of ‘all in’, whether the horse or selection participates or not. This means that if the horse or selection does not run or participate in the race/event named, the bet is a loser. This applies even if the selection was not entered in the race, as long as there was the possibility that it could have been entered at a later stage.

Betting In Play

Bet in Play is available on a number of live events. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the prices quoted are correct, the nature of live betting (i.e. constantly changing prices), means that on occasion, the price may have changed by the time the bet is placed. The correct price at the time the bet is accepted will be used to settle the bet.

Customers should be aware that certain 'live' feeds, be they on TV, radio or the internet are subject to delays and might be watching an event slightly behind or slightly ahead of other users. This includes live streaming provided by Ladbrokes.

A 'delay' is placed on all betting in play bets, the length of which varies depending on the sport.

As indicated in the Errors section, any live scores or clocks displayed on the site during a bet in play event are for guidance purposes only, and although we make every effort to ensure that this information is accurate, Ladbrokes accepts no liability should the displayed information be listed incorrectly.

Dead Heats

A dead heat in horse racing is when two or more runners finish tied for the same place in any race.

An example of this may be when two selections cannot be split by a photo finish and the course would determine both selections as the winner.

In order to calculate your returns in the event of a dead heat, you would need to divide your total stake by the number of selections which finished "tied", and then multiply by the odds at which the bet was placed.

Disputes

If you wish to make a query or complaint, as a first step you should as soon as reasonably practicable contact the shop’s Duty Manager if it is regarding a shop, or our Customer Support Team for any non-shop related points, for assistance. If you are unable to resolve your query satisfactorily with our shop manager you should then contact our Customer Support Team. If, having spoken to a member of the team, your query or complaint is not resolved, you can ask for the matter to be escalated to a manager or supervisor. Our manager/supervisor will look into your query/complaint in more detail and contact you back with a resolution within 24 hours. You will be given the name and status of the person to whom your query/complaint has been referred.

Any dispute or difference that arises out of or in connection with the Contract shall be determined by the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) whose ruling shall be binding. If, notwithstanding the above, the customer issues Court proceedings, Ladbrokes reserve the right to apply to stay those proceedings pending determination by the IBAS. If the customer fails or refuses to follow the ruling of the IBAS, the customer will reimburse all resulting expenses (including court fees) incurred by Ladbrokes.

Each-Way Betting

An Each Way bet is made up of 2 parts: the ‘Win' and the ‘Place'.

Each part is an equal stake, e.g. a £1 Each Way bet will have £1 on the ‘Win' and £1 on the ‘Place' (a total stake of £2).

The ‘Win' part of your bet is on your selection to win the event, and the ‘Place' part is on your selection to finish either first or in one of the pre-determined places.

If your selection wins, both the ‘Win' and ‘Place' parts of your bet will pay out. But if your selection only places, you will lose the ‘Win' part of your bet (and lose that part of the stake) but get paid out on the ‘Place'.

The odds for the ‘Place' are given as a fraction of the odds for the ‘Win' and will be displayed to you when you place your bet.

Each-Way betting is most common in horse and greyhound racing, and is also usually available in other sports e.g. Football or Golf tournaments.

Enhanced Prices for Multiple Bets

Unless otherwise stated (onsite and/or within specific marketing) where special multiples are available (ie: Doubles, Trebles and upwards) the following rules will apply:

Win bets only are accepted. Any Each Way bets taken in error will be settled to win.
If any of the featured horses and greyhounds are non-runners all bets will be settled on the remaining selections at Starting Price (SP) unless it was an Ante Post bet on an all-in run or not basis then the bet will be a loser.
For greyhounds If any non-runners or reserves are involved in the selected races, all bets placed prior to non runner will be settled at SP.

Football and All Other Sports

Unless otherwise stated (onsite and/or within specific marketing), in the instance where one selection of an enhanced/price boosted multiple does not take place/participate or start (e.g. match abandoned) the bet will be voided and stakes returned to your account.

Errors

Ladbrokes make every effort to ensure that we do not make errors in accepting bets. However, if as a result of human error or system problems a bet is accepted at a price (which includes the odds, handicap provisions, and other terms and conditions or details of the bet) that is:

materially different from those available in the general market at the time the bet was made; or
clearly incorrect given the chance of the event occurring at the time the bet was made

After this, Ladbrokes will pay winnings at the correct price.

Where an incorrect handicap is displayed as a result of a technical or manual inputting error, we reserve the right to settle any affected bets at corrected odds to reflect those odds that would have been available had the incorrect handicap line been offered knowingly.

To establish the correct price Ladbrokes will consider prices available in the general market at the time the bet was made, including the prices offered by William Hill, Betfred, Bet Victor, Paddy Power and Bet365.

Examples of circumstances where this would apply are:

the price is recorded as 100-1 when the price on offer in the general market is 10-1
the margins for handicap betting have been reversed

If a bet is accepted in error by Ladbrokes on an event or outcome for which no Ladbrokes prices are available the bet will be void and your stake returned.

Any results, clocks or scores displayed on the site - for example during betting in play - are for guidance purposes only, and although we make every effort to ensure that this information is accurate, Ladbrokes accepts no liability should the displayed information be listed incorrectly.

Fraud

Ladbrokes will seek criminal and contractual sanctions against any customer involved in fraud, dishonesty or criminal acts. Ladbrokes will withhold payment to any customer where any of these are suspected.

The customer shall indemnify and shall be liable to pay to Ladbrokes, on demand, all costs, charges or losses sustained or incurred by Ladbrokes (including any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit and loss of reputation) arising directly or indirectly from the customer’s fraud, dishonesty or criminal act.

Postponed Matches

For any cancelled or postponed match, any bets struck prior to the scheduled kick-off will be void. All bets stand on any match that is delayed prior to the scheduled kick-off time and takes place on the same day (local time). The only exceptions are matches that take place within a fixed date tournament framework eg Olympic Games, Tennis Tournaments, European Championships Finals, World Cup Finals etc then bets will stand (does not apply to non-tennis qualifying matches taking place outside of the fixed date tournament framework). See Individual Sport rules for superseding rules relevant to those sports.

Price Changes

All prices are subject to change and may, on occasion, be restricted to certain stake levels. The prices offered via our different business channels may vary. For example, our shops or on-course betting facilities, may offer slightly different prices from those available at our Call Centre or on our Website/Mobile Sites.

Online/Mobile

We will always endeavour to ensure that the process of placing your bet is as quick and simple as possible.

In some instances, where prices may be changing rapidly - e.g. in-play sports betting - the price of your selection may change between the moment you place your bet and the time at which your receive confirmation that the bet has been placed, the following scenarios apply:

If the price of your selection decreases - e.g. from 6/4 into 5/4 - your bet will not be placed and you will be presented with the option to place your bet at the new price.

If the price of your selection increases - e.g. from 2/1 to 5/2 - your bet will not be placed and you will be presented with the option to place your bet at the new price.

Results

Bets are settled on the first result published by the official source/governing body or, alternatively, by the official website of the relevant event, immediately after the match/event is finished. Any subsequent corrections or amendments to this result will not apply for settlement purposes.

If the result is not immediately available from the official source/governing body or the official website of the relevant event, or there is significant evidence that the official source/governing body or official website is incorrect, we will use independent sources such as Press Association to decide settlement.

In the absence of any consistent, independent evidence or in the presence of significant conflicting evidence, bets will be settled based on our own statistics.

Special Bets

We will sometimes offer special betting opportunities, for which the rules are not covered specifically in these Rules. In these instances, we will display the additional terms/rules in the text description that relates to the opportunity on the website, and bets will be settled accordingly.

Fixed Price Enhanced Multiple Bets

An enhanced multiple bet is a win single only selection at a fixed price.
In the event of a Dead Heat, selections will be settled as an SP (starting price)/ Standard Price accumulative bet with Dead Heat rules applied.
All bets are struck at selection level e.g. Enhanced Jockey Multiples: in the instance a different jockey is declared to ride, the bet will stand on the horses selected not the Jockey.
Horse Racing enhanced multiple bets - If a different jockey is declared to ride, the bet will stand on the horses selected.
Where an enhanced multiple has selections affected by the withdrawal of another selection/s in a Racing market, selections may be settled as an SP (starting price) accumulative bet and a rule 4 deduction may be applied. (standard rule 4 deductions apply)
Football enhanced multiple bets apply to 90 minutes only i.e. never include extra time.
US Sports enhanced multiple bets Overtime and extra innings count.
Standard trading rules will be applied to all variants/markets within the enhanced multiple.

Voids

If a selection in a single bet is made void the stake will be returned.

Void selections in multiple/accumulator bets will be treated as non-runners and the stake will run onto the remaining selections in the bet.

Fraud, Withholding Payment and Our Right to Offset Liability

We reserve the right to seek criminal and contractual sanctions against you if you are involved in fraud or dishonest or criminal acts and will make such reports as necessary to the relevant authorities. You will indemnify and will be liable to pay to Ladbrokes, on demand, all costs, charges or losses sustained or incurred by Ladbrokes (including any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit and loss of reputation) arising directly or indirectly from your fraud, dishonesty or criminal act. We reserve the right to withhold payment to you and/or void any associated bet(s) where you are suspected of engaging in fraudulent, dishonest or criminal activities and, in particular, if we have evidence that the following has occurred:

The integrity of the event (or that of any participant) has been called into question
The price(s) or pool has been manipulated
Match rigging has taken place
You were under 18 years of age when you placed the bet

Evidence of the above may be based on the size, volume or pattern of bets placed with us across any or all of our betting channels. A decision given by the relevant Sports’ Governing Body, Federation, Regulator, or a referral by the latter to International Law Enforcement following a review of the activity, will be conclusive. If any customer owes any money to Ladbrokes for any reason, we have the right to take that into account before making any payments to that customer

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