Australian Gambler Who Sued Sportsbook Over Drunken Bets Now Owns Betting Sites

• After suing a bookmaker over hundreds of thousands in losses, millionaire Winton Veall now co-owns a network of digital betting sites
• Veall’s original lawsuit claimed the sportsbook exploited his vulnerability by taking massive over-the-phone wagers while he was highly inebriated
• The former lounge singer’s transition to the other side of the betting counter comes as his own sites face scrutiny for capping winning customer payouts

An Australian gambler who sued a sportsbook for allegedly failing to protect him while intoxicated now co-owns a network of online betting sites and is facing criticism from customers over restrictive terms and account practices.

Wealthy businessman Winton Veall, 75, sued Australian betting company TopSport in 2022 claiming he had suffered “psychological injury” after placing a series of bets between 2016 and May 2019 while pie-eyed, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The case was later settled out of court confidentially, and it’s unclear whether any money changed hands.

Veall comes from a prominent Melbourne family and has led an eclectic life that has included business ventures and property investments, as well as a stint as a lounge singer.

Fun fact: his brother, Duncan Veall, played keyboards in Australian rock band Mondo Rock.

Bettor Complaint

These days however, Veall is on the other side of the counter. He’s listed as co-owner and co-director of multiple online sportsbooks operating under licenses in New South Wales and Victoria, including BetNow, PuntZone, BetNova, DashBet, MidasBet, and OnlyBets, the Herald reports.

When contacted by the newspaper, Veall said the lawsuit had no bearing on his ownership of gambling businesses.

“It’s a mutually exclusive situation,” he explained.

The Herald cited a complaint from a customer of BetNow, one of the sportsbooks linked to Veall.

The customer also alleged his account was frozen and subjected to verification checks after the win.

Following the Herald’s investigation, BetNow paid the remaining amount as a “gesture of goodwill” but maintained that its actions were consistent with its terms and conditions and applicable rules.

Mixed Reviews

Veall told the newspaper that day-to-day operations were handled by his business partner, Da He, a former employee of Tabcorp and Bet365.

“To my knowledge we have never had any difficulty with any of our clients,” Veall said, adding that decisions regarding risk management and customer accounts were made by He.

The Herald also cited negative online reviews of betting sites linked to Veall and He, including complaints about withdrawal and verification procedures. However, the report noted that some customers had posted positive reviews praising customer service.