Can You Claim Betting Shop Winnings Online?

BetfredIn the modern era, more and more people are turning to online bookmakers in order to place bets on any number of events. Whether you’re the sort of person that enjoys a flutter on the horses or are keen to do an accumulator every weekend there are football matches to bet on, the chances are high that you’ll place your bet online via your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Every now and then, though, you might just place a bet in person at one of Britain’s high street bookmakers.

Whilst it’s true that there are fewer and fewer of them on our streets, there are still plenty that you can pop into and place a bet with. The problem arises when your bet wins and you can’t get back to the bookies’ shop in order to claim your winnings. You can claim them online if the bookmaker in question runs a card scheme, but otherwise your options are relatively limited and will almost always require you to head into the shop in person to collect your money.

Card Schemes

coral connectThe first place to start on this topic is by looking at the bookmakers that run card schemes that allow bettors to mix and match whether they use their services online or in person. Most of the bookies with high street shops run such a scheme nowadays, though they all call them something different depending on the company in question. If they run such a scheme then they will usually allow you to deposit money in store and use it in your online account.

Equally, as long as you have remembered to scan your card when placing your wager, you will be able to track the bet online. This includes the likes of being able to Cash Out your bet via your account on your mobile, should you feel as though the bet is turning against you and you want to guarantee yourself at least a small return. More to the point, you’ll also be able to get the winnings from the bet placed in a shop paid into your online betting account.

Of course, you’ll still need to go through the process of moving the funds from your betting account to your bank account before you’ll be able to spend your winnings, but it’s still better than having to physically go into the bookies if you’re not in a rush to get your hands on your money. Using such a scheme when offered is the best way of being able to claim winnings from a bet placed in a shop purely using your online betting account with the same bookmaker.

Can’t Claim In The Shop

William Hill Shop ClosedThere are any number of reasons why someone might have placed a bet in a shop and then find themselves unable to get back to the shop in order to claim their winnings. This is especially the case if you’ve placed your bet with an independent bookmaker when on a city break, for example, only to discover that the bookie in question doesn’t have a branch in operation near to where you live. You don’t want to have to travel across the country to claim your winnings, so what can you do?

The first thing you’ll want to do is give them a call and assess your options. Many bookmakers will allow you to post in your winning slip and have the bookmaker pay you out once they’ve received it and checked that it is genuine. This isn’t limited to independent bookies, of course, but that’s the best example of when it might be likely to happen. They will want to be able to check the slip and ensure that it hasn’t been tampered with or altered in any way.

Another option that is open to people is to take a photograph of the slip and send it to the bookmaker via the likes of social media or email. Often, companies will be happy to issue you with online credit for the amount you have won, at least ensuring that you can use your winnings to place more bets. This isn’t the same as being paid out the winnings as you won’t be able to withdraw them, but it’s at least better than being left with nothing to show for your successful bet.

If It’s Genuine, You’ll Get Your Winnings

man looking at a bet slip with surpriseThe key thing to bear in mind is that you will definitely get your winnings as long as the bet in question is a genuine one and the bookmaker that you placed it with is still operating. There can be a wealth of reasons why a bookie might need to shut all of their shops for a time, but the key thing is that they will honour the bets that they accepted before they shut their doors. The only thing that will differ from company to company is how you get paid out.

Betting slips tend to have a betting slip number on them, which will be on the bookmaker’s system from when they scanned the slip at the time that you placed the bet. Any claim of winnings will be checked against this system, which is what prevents fraudsters from being able to claim winnings that they’re not actually entitled to when using the online services of a bookie. Provided any claim can be checked, there’s no reason for punters not to be paid out.

Whichever bookie it is that you deal with, the chances are that you’ll need to ensure that you have an online account however it is you attempt to claim your winnings. If you send them your betting slip, for example, then you’ll need to include information about yourself such as your username and your name and address in order for them to process your claim. Once they’ve done that, they’ll pay you out in the method that they have said in their terms and conditions is how they’ll process such wagers, ensuring that you don’t miss out on a payout.