Betting sites that don’t pay: what to do?
Written by :
Julia Silva
Reviewed by :
Larissa Borges
Although the betting market has grown considerably in Brazil, the year 2023 was marked by problems related to bookmakers.
Some sites operating in the country , such as Blaze, have been accused by their users of not paying prizes .
These cases are rare compared to the biggest bookmakers, but they raise a warning for players: what to do if the site doesn’t pay the prize?
To help bettors deal with this situation, we have created this guide with ways to overcome obstacles imposed by bookmakers that do not pay.
Stay with us and learn how to avoid losses when betting!
Why don’t bookmakers pay bettors?
As much as not receiving the prize can be a big headache, there are some scenarios that can be the reason why the amount is not passed on to the bettor.
Pay attention to the possibilities below and check if none of them are your case.
1. Payment method
One of the reasons for not receiving a prize from a bookmaker may be the withdrawal method chosen . Therefore, it is important to check what options are offered by that site.
Currently, some bookmakers already work with payments to bettors via PIX, but this is not yet unanimous in the market.
It is also worth noting that it is not possible to redeem the prize to a third party’s account.
Withdrawals are only accepted when a valid account is indicated that has been used by the same account holder to make a deposit at the bookmaker.
Another point to pay attention to is the payment deadline. Unlike PIX, not all methods are instantaneous. Therefore, you need to keep an eye on the transaction deadline.
Usually, a player is required to wager a specific amount before they can withdraw their winnings.
As there is a deadline for fulfilling the rollover, it is possible that the bettor will not be able to withdraw what he won from the bonus and may even lose all his progress in that online house.
To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to check the terms and conditions in the rules section of the website.
2. Rollover
Do you know what rollover is ? This is a rule created by bookmakers that imposes conditions on the withdrawal of some prizes.
This is precisely why rollover can be the cause of difficulty in receiving the prize won.
The most common case is in relation to the bonus on the first deposit.
3. Active bonus
When registering at a bookmaker, you will probably be asked about activating promotions .
If the player forgets to indicate that he does not want a bonus, this information can be filled in automatically.
Consequently, it is possible that the withdrawal may be prevented because the bookmaker considers that there is an active bonus, requiring compliance with a rollover.
However, if the bettor has not used this bonus, this problem tends to be easily resolved by contacting the bookmaker’s support.
4. Insufficient balance
The insufficient balance warning occurs when the player tries to withdraw an amount greater than that allowed by the bookmaker for withdrawals.
Each site has its own minimum and maximum amount rules, usually linked to a payment method.
Therefore, it is possible, for example, that the minimum amount for withdrawal in transfers to bank accounts is lower than that required for withdrawal via a virtual wallet.
I bet and didn’t receive: what should I do?
If you have not received your prize and your situation does not fit into any of the possibilities listed above, there are different ways to solve this problem. Below, we list 4 alternatives.
Specialized in helping consumers in difficulty, Reclame Aqui can mediate this communication, mainly because negative reviews on the website can undermine the reputation of the bookmaker and be detrimental to attracting new customers.
When filing your complaint, try to observe the bookmaker’s response rate . If the resolution rate is low, it may be an indication that you will need to use another means.
1. Service channels
The best way to get your prize released at a betting house is to use the customer service channels it offers.
This contact can be made via chat on the website itself, by email, telephone or WhatsApp.
Through these channels, customer support can help resolve the problem or even clarify whether the customer has not observed any withdrawal rules that are preventing the release of the prize.
To facilitate this contact, it is recommended that the player provide detailed information, including screenshots.
2. Complain Here
If the channels provided by the bookmaker itself are not sufficient to resolve the lack of payment, the bettor can seek help from third parties.
In this case, a good option is to contact Reclame Aqui.
3. IBSA
Specialized in helping consumers in difficulty, Reclame Aqui can mediate this communication, mainly because negative reviews on the website can undermine the reputation of the bookmaker and be detrimental to attracting new customers.
When filing your complaint, try to observe the bookmaker’s response rate. If the resolution rate is low, it may be an indication that you will need to use another means.
Another alternative for mediating contact with bookmakers is to use IBAS ( Independent Betting Adjudication Service ).
This British organization was founded in 1998 and has a Gambling Commission to seek conciliation or mediation of disputes between bookmakers and their users.
The complaint to IBAS is an attempt at an extrajudicial resolution, which can be analyzed before actually resorting to legal action.
It is worth remembering that IBAS is an international organization, so communication must be made in English.
4. Lawsuits against bookmakers
Unfortunately, betting scams have started to happen as digital influencers promote unreliable betting houses.
If attempts to contact the company through official channels or Reclame Aqui are unsuccessful, the bettor can file a lawsuit against the bookmaker.
However, this can be a very difficult path in the relationship with some bookmakers.
As the market is still being regulated in Brazil, most of them still operate outside the country , which prevents legal proceedings in national territory.
One alternative is to try to hold jointly liable companies that provide accounting services to betting houses, such as issuing bank slips and local transfers.
According to the Consumer Code, companies participating in the supply chain are jointly and severally liable, which may force them to be held liable for losses.
However, it is important to keep in mind that this path is not a guarantee of success in a legal action. The validity of the claim will depend on the interpretation of the judge responsible for evaluating the case.
How to avoid losses when betting?
To avoid problems like those that occur with betting houses that do not pay, players have different ways of protecting themselves.
Some of them are related to personal habits, such as not taking excessive risks or losing control of the bankroll .
Remember not to despair in case of losses. Trying to recover the value without a clear strategy tends to only increase the loss.
As for betting houses, the best way to avoid scams and, consequently, loss of money is to always focus on the most reliable sites on the market.
If you don’t know what they are, don’t worry. Below, we recommend the safest bookmakers!
Most Trusted Betting Sites
Reputation and licenses are two important criteria for checking the reliability of a bookmaker.
However, when we talk about guarantees to receive prizes, the player may also observe requirements related to payment methods. Check out some of them!
Bet365 – long-standing credibility and secure withdrawals
Bet365 has been operating in the betting market for over 20 years, building a long history of credibility .
A large part of this reliability lies in the fact that it is a bookmaker with licenses from some of the strictest commissions in the world, such as the United Kingdom, Malta and Spain.
Bet365’s security is also guaranteed with data encryption on the website, barriers for under-18s and policies for responsible gaming.
To withdraw your prize from Bet365, you will need to send your identity document to the bookmaker, as well as proof of address.
The bettor can make the withdrawal either by bank transfer or by credit card.
In the second case, this measure further favors the bettor’s security, since it will only be possible to make the withdrawal using the same card used for the deposit.
Betano – prizes and various withdrawal methods
Bet365 is one of the most trusted bookmakers in the world
Betano is a betting house founded in Greece and which became better known in Brazil by sponsoring Atlético Mineiro and Fluminense.
Throughout its history, it has collected several awards, such as the best operator of the year and the operator with the greatest growth from the European Game Congress (EGC) and Sports Betting Community (SBC).
In a survey carried out by Consumer Choice, the brand was elected “Consumer Choice 2022”, in the Sports Betting category.
As for withdrawal methods, Betano offers several alternatives: Pix, bank transfer, Pay4Fun, Skrill, Neteller and EcoPayz.
For the first withdrawal, identity verification uses the same personal information used to register on the platform.
Betano has collected awards that confirm its reliability in the industry
Bodog – Cryptocurrency withdrawals
Bodog is another bookmaker with decades of experience in the market. Regarding its reliability, it maintains a rating of 7.7/10 on Reclame Aqui .
And one of its main differences for withdrawals is the possibility of using cryptocurrencies : Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin.
The player can also choose to withdraw via bank transfer, voucher or AstroPay, with a processing time of around 5 minutes.
Therefore, to avoid losses, check which withdrawal methods are available on the main websites and avoid those that have a history of not paying prizes.
Bodog stands out for offering cryptocurrencies for withdrawal