Key Moments:
- A Maltese court has supported Betway’s right to retain more than €30,000 in winnings after determining player rule violations.
- The player used a cousin’s Neteller account for deposits, connecting his account to previously self-excluded profiles.
- Betway refunded €18,721 in deposits as a “gesture of goodwill” while withholding the disputed winnings.
Court Rules on Disputed Winnings
The Civil Court First Hall has sided with Betway after reviewing the claim brought by Reegan Tharmalingam regarding €30,279 in withheld winnings. The court found that Tharmalingam had used a Neteller account registered to his cousin, Sansigithan Ravichandran, to fund his Betway account created in May 2021. Investigations revealed his account, under the username ReeganR, was linked to other accounts that had been self-excluded.
Terms and Conditions Breached
On November 6, Judge Giovanni Grixti stated that Betway had lawful grounds to confiscate the winnings due to explicit breaches of its contractual terms. These terms ban the use of third-party payment methods and prohibit multiple account registrations. The judge declared, “It is therefore clear that such conduct on the part of the plaintiff, admitted by himself, goes against the terms and conditions that bind the players of the defendant company,” Grixti stated.
Although the winnings were retained by Betway, the company returned €18,721 in deposits as a “gesture of goodwill.” Tharmalingam’s claim that Betway should have identified the infractions sooner was rejected. The court maintained that, “delayed detection ‘does not change any of the obligations contracted between the parties.’”
Linked Accounts and Fraud Review
According to testimony from Carla Tarrin Paulse, Betway’s fraud team lead, ReeganR was associated with three other accounts, including Reegan1982 and ut1627, both of which had been self-excluded in April 2021. The investigation uncovered matching mobile numbers, banking information, and password identifiers.
While Tharmalingam was able to withdraw €3,124 soon after account creation, his later attempts to withdraw €30,000 activated a risk assessment and brought the violations to light. During cross-examination, Tharmalingam confirmed he hadn’t read Betway’s terms and conditions, despite clicking “accept” during registration.
Regulatory Response and Responsible Gambling
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) had previously dismissed Tharmalingam’s complaint, concluding that Betway met both legal and regulatory obligations. The court highlighted the importance of self-exclusion as a player protection tool and reinforced that gambling operators are required to enforce such rules to support responsible gambling in regulated markets.
This decision reinforces the right of operators to retain winnings acquired through breaches of terms and responsible gambling policies, emphasizing the importance of player adherence to established regulations.
| Party | Key Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Betway | Withheld €30,279 in winnings, refunded €18,721 in deposits | Supported by Maltese court |
| Reegan Tharmalingam | Claimed winnings after breaching terms | Claim dismissed |
| Malta Gaming Authority | Reviewed player’s complaint | Dismissed complaint, upheld operator’s action |
- Author
Daniel Williams
