Soccabet accused of not paying winners promptly

One of the sports betting companies, Soccabet, in the thriving industry in Ghana has been accused of not paying winners promptly - a winning taxi driver has angrily reported.

Having been told by shop staff that his bet was successful and that he would be paid in full when sufficient funds, Kwame Obeng arrived the following day and was not paid.

The shop staff told the excited winner that there was insufficient funds in the shop to carry out the payment until some cash arrives from the headquarters in Osu - a suburb of Accra.

One week later the angry driver who made his punt in Alhaji Tabora is still chasing the undisclosed amount for his payout.

Soccabet was unavailable for comment when contacted through their customer service phone line and Obeng  is contemplating legal action.

"I have waited for about one week now and my friends are telling me if I contact a lawyer they will pay me my money," Obeng told a local radio station.

"I am a big football fan and I have been betting on football matches for some years now. Companies like Supabets, Premier and Mybet do not have problems in paying quickly.

"This is frustrating and I want the authorities to have a look at some of these things to ensure that the rights of bettors are protected."

Whether the business is closed or the matter is dragged on to court, the bottom line for Obeng, who depends on his taxi business for a living, is that what had initially seemed the happiest day of his life has turned out to be a sour tussle whose outcome only time will determine.

Several sports betting firms are in operation in Ghana with Supabets as the market leader with competitive odds and prompt payments.

However the murkier side of the business has now been exposed with the first betting company accused of not paying winners promptly.

In support of any gambler who feels their bookmaker has let them down please reach out to: [email protected] so that we can contact in Gaming Commission with your complaints.