Harare magistrate Simon Kandiyero has fined betting company Bezbets US$500 for defrauding a punter who placed a bet and won $5400.
However, the magistrate did not issue a restitution order, meaning the punter lost both the the money used to play the bet and the windfall he won.
The company’ representative Robson Chinamasa was remanded to Friday for sentencing.
Bezbets had refused to pay the punter alleging he had used more State money than accepted. But the punter argued that there were no terms and conditions on the game he was playing.
He further submitted that he used to play the game before with similar amounts of money with the betting company not raising any issues.
Kandiyero ruled that the company misrepresented to the complainant and committed fraud. The magistrate said the company was not honest after the punter won.
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The punter placed a bet with US$394 and won US$5 400.
The company then filed a counter charge of fraud against the punter which was later declined by the National Prosecuting Authority for lack of evidence.