Betclic reverses bet cancellation over misunderstood handicap rule

Garance Limouzy October 2, 2024

Betclic has retracted its decision to cancel bets placed on the 64th round of the Coupe de France basketball matches. Initially, Betclic announced on Sunday that it would refund bets related to match outcomes and quarter scores due to the reintroduction of a handicap rule that granted lower-division teams a seven-point advantage. The decision to annul these bets stirred backlash from bettors who had exploited the handicap to place sizeable wagers.

A misunderstood handicap rule

Just five days after the matches, Betclic informed its users via a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that all bets labeled “Match Result” would be settled considering the handicap rule. However, it deemed bets on other markets, including quarter scores, void and subject to refunds. Reports indicate that several million euros were wagered on these matches, with many bettors taking advantage of the recently reintroduced handicap.

Inaccurate odds

Betclic explained its initial decision by claiming that the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) had not communicated the application of the new rules, leading to discrepancies in the betting odds. “The application of these new rules was not clearly communicated by the FFBB, and Betclic could not provide the appropriate odds for the matches,” the operator stated.

⚠️ [UPDATE] Coupe de France de Basket 🏀

L'édition 2024/25 de la CDF de Basket marque l'apparition de nouvelles règles, notamment le retour du handicap de 7 points par division d'écart.

L'application de ces nouvelles règles n'ayant pas été clairement communiquée par la…
— Betclic 🔞 (@Betclic)

Bettor discontent and legal threats

The abrupt cancellation ignited outrage among bettors, some of whom were contemplating legal action to recover their stakes. Bettors have accused both Betclic and Parions Sport, another betting site affiliated with the French National Lottery (FDJ), of failing to honour winning bets. “Moreover, the justification given by Betclic is inaccurate; the Federation communicated the details of the competition, including the handicap rules, just two days before it began,” claimed one frustrated gambler. Indeed, just before the start of the competition, the Coupe de France’s official website explicitly stated that teams from lower divisions would begin matches with a scoring advantage. This announcement should have clarified the implementation of the handicap rule from the outset of the games, contradicting Betclic’s claims of confusion.

ANJ steps in

The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s regulatory body for gambling, , reinforcing that the execution of bets must align with the FFBB’s initial announcement of results. In a statement, the ANJ explained, “The execution of bets must be based on the first announcement of results by the FFBB.” Any subsequent adjustments to the results would not impact the validity of the bets as executed based on the initial declaration. The FFBB later acknowledged technical challenges that occasionally hindered the proper application of the handicap rule at the start of some matches. However, they clarified that these issues did not affect the final match results or the handicap adjustments made during the games. Following the ANJ’s clarification, Betclic has now reversed its stance and will honour the bets initially deemed void, ensuring that bettors will receive their rightful payouts.