Several prominent sportsbooks, including DraftKings, faced significant financial exposure on Sunday due to the PGA Tour Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which experienced a shortened event due to inclement weather in Southern California.
DraftKings, however, opted to keep odds active for the event even after Saturday’s third round, extending into the day on Sunday.
When bettors capitalized on this and appeared to secure millions in potential winnings, the company abruptly voided all bets and altered its rules, resulting in widespread user dissatisfaction.
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Compounding the issue is the apparent adjustment of DraftKings’ own golf betting rules during the event to circumvent payouts to winners.
Initially, the rules stipulated that bets would be honored as long as players completed 36 holes. However, the revised terms specified that all bets placed after the final shot of the previous round would be deemed void. This modification ultimately saved the sports betting giant millions of dollars.
Numerous individuals not only wagered on Wyndham Clark, the eventual winner, but also included Clark in parlays with several other top five and top 10 finishers. While this may seem inequitable, the responsibility lies with DraftKings to suspend betting. As long as betting lines are active, the expectation is that the company should honor those bets.
At the very least, many argue that DraftKings should offer some form of compensation, such as free bets, to affected users. Instead, the company left bettors responsible for its own error, which not only tarnishes its image but could potentially be legally questionable if rules were indeed changed mid-event.
We are currently reviewing the settlement of certain bets placed on this weekend’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am following the cancellation of the final round due to severe weather. DraftKings’ house rules are currently the same as they were at the start of this event.” according to a DraftKings spokesperson
Steven Petrella of Action Network provided insight into the situation, stating, “…If you bet Wyndham Clark to win on Friday and the tournament ends early, you’ll still win. But if you bet him on Sunday morning and the tournament never resumed, your bet will be void.”
