Gala Bingo has apologised after a system glitch caused incorrect payouts during its Summer Nights Bingo promotion, leaving one couple £18,000 out of pocket.
The error, which lasted for two hours on 4 August, affected players when consolidation prizes were awarded.
Tickets for the promotion cost £0.01, with a maximum prize of £150.
Operator’s Response
A spokesperson for Gala Bingo confirmed that the Gambling Commission had been informed.
“We apologise to customers for a technical error which occurred during our Summer Nights Bingo promotion for a short period of time, resulting in all players receiving incorrect payouts,” the statement read.
“Our customer Terms and Conditions clearly state that in the event of a malfunction, winnings can be voided. Affected players have been contacted directly with a gesture of goodwill.”
Past Examples Raise Reputational Questions
Similar incidents have raised debates about the fairness of voiding winnings due to technical errors.
Earlier this year, Gambling Insider discussed the reputational risks after cases involving Paddy Power and Betfred, which involved much larger sums.
This latest incident is likely to renew scrutiny on how operators handle payout disputes in the age of online gaming.