Lottery syndicate pals wait for verdict on £868 ticket row with bookmaker

Alan Brookes, of Stubby Lane, Wednesfield, should have been enjoying a share of £868 from the Irish Lottery but when he went to cash in his ticket he was told that Coral had pulled out the competition days before.

The branch on Linthouse Lane offered to reimburse the £140 that Mr Brookes had put on for five weeks worth of numbers.

But the toolmaker refused the offer and demanded the gambling firm hand over the winnings.

He claims he was told by Coral that with the company withdrawing from the Irish Lottery his bet shouldn't have been taken.

Approaching three months since he placed the bet Mr Brookes is still waiting on a decision by Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) to find out if he's a lottery winner. He said: "There's 14 of us in the syndicate and we put five weeks worth of numbers on.

"Then on March 30 our numbers came in and we won £868.

"I was happy with that and I went down to the betting shop to collect the winnings but I was told my ticket was void.

"After staff looked into it I was told that Coral had pulled out the Irish Lottery a couple of days before and they couldn't give me the money.

"I couldn't believe what they were saying to me.

"I was angry, they offered me my £140 back but had I not won they would have been happy to keep that money. They shouldn't have taken the bet and they should pay out.

"It's Coral who have made the mistake why should I be punished for it?"

IBAS said it was aware of Mr Brookes's complaint but could not comment on individual cases.

Coral spokesman for David Stevens said: "Having spoken to my colleagues it appears Mr Brookes has already contacted the betting industry arbitration service IBAS about this issue, and they are currently in the process of looking at the case.

"We will abide by whatever decision IBAS come to, but until that is known it would be inappropriate of me to comment further at this stage."