A Harare judge has convicted betting company Bezbets after it refused to pay a gambler who won a US$5,400 bet.
The company, represented by Robson Chinamasa, was found guilty after a full trial conducted by Judge Simon Kandero, who remanded her in custody until Friday for sentencing.
Bezbets refused to pay the gambler, claiming that he used more state funds than he accepted.
But the gambler argued that there were no terms and conditions for the game he was playing.
He also stated that he was losing matches by similar amounts but they did not complain.
However, Candiero ruled that the company provided false information to the complainant and committed fraud.
The judge said that the company was not honest after the gambler won. The judge said that when a gambler loses after using the same amount, he ignores the matter.
The gambler placed a bet of $394 and won $5,400. The company then filed a counter-charge of fraud against the gambler which was later rejected by the Zimbabwe National Prosecuting Authority for lack of evidence.
The company has also disabled the online gambler’s account and has also informed the Gaming Board about it.
A further application was submitted to the civil courts to force the company to pay.
The court heard that on October 26 last year, on the Bezbets online platform, the complainant allegedly placed a roulette bet with a stake of US$394. The platform gave him the possibility of winning US$5,400 if the bet won.
The complainant won the bet and went to the store to cash out his winning bet of $5,400.
However, the court heard that Chinamasa refused to pay US$5,400 compensation and instead offered US$1,800.
After the complainant realized that he had been deceived, he filed a report with the police, which led to his arrest. Newsday
