Gardener Wins £1 Million Prize After High Court Victory Against Paddy Power

by Laura Hayes March 6th 2025, 0:28 PST

Corrine Durber, a gardener from Gloucestershire, has secured a victory in her battle against Paddy Power after the bookmaker denied her a £1 million jackpot, claiming a computer error. The High Court ruled in her favour, awarding her the entire sum displayed on her screen.

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The Disputed Win

Back in October 2020, Mrs Durber was playing the Wild Hatter game—a two-part slot machine that includes a fruit machine and a wheel of fortune. After spinning the jackpot wheel, her screen displayed a massive £1,097,132.71 win, which she thought was a dream come true.

However, Paddy Power disputed this, offering her just £20,265. The Irish bookmaker claimed that the error stemmed from a glitch in the game’s programming, resulting in the incorrect jackpot amount. According to the bookmaker, she had only won the smaller Daily Jackpot.

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The Legal Battle

In response, Mrs Durber took legal action against PPB Entertainment Limited, which operates Paddy Power and Betfair, suing for breach of contract and demanding the remainder of her winnings. On March 5, 2025, the High Court ruled in her favour, awarding her the full £1 million without the need for a trial.

“It will look after the children, pay off mortgages, and allow us to enjoy our retirement,” said Mrs Durber. “I’m relieved and happy that the judge confirmed I won fairly and squarely.”

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The Judge’s Ruling

Mr Justice Ritchie, the presiding judge, stated that it was unfair for the trader (Paddy Power) to shift all the risk onto the consumer for its own errors. In his ruling, he pointed out that when players trust what is shown on screen, they should be entitled to expect that it is correct.

“Objectively, customers would want and expect that what was to be shown to them on screen to be accurate and correct,” said the judge, likening it to the expectations of a player in a physical casino. “If a ball lands on number 13 in roulette, customers expect the house to pay out.”

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The Aftermath

Following the High Court’s decision, Mrs Durber expressed her frustration, questioning why Paddy Power didn’t simply pay out the winnings immediately instead of forcing her to endure a lengthy legal process.

In response, a spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “We always strive to provide the best customer experience possible and pride ourselves on fairness. We deeply regret this unfortunate case and are reviewing the judgment.”

Takeaways from the Case

• What you see on screen should be what you get, according to the judge’s ruling.
• The case sheds light on transparency and fairness within the online gambling industry.
• This ruling may have implications for future disputes over online gambling software errors.

While this case ended in a win for Mrs Durber, it raises important questions about the accuracy and integrity of digital gambling platforms. Players should be aware of the risks and take necessary precautions when gambling online.