Bookmaker is suspended by Ibas as fears grow among golf punters
by Bruce Millington
THE Independent Betting Arbitration Servicehas suspended the registration of specialist golf bookmaker Golfinggods for the second time.
The move comes as concern grows among some Golfinggods customers over whether they will receive money owed to them.
The Edinburgh-based internet firm has been suspended by Ibas for failing to comply with its conditions of registration.
Ibas chief executive officer Chris O’Keeffe said yesterday: “I can confirm that Ibas finds itself in the invidious position where all lines of communication with Golfinggods.com have closed, despite our numerous efforts to contact the company.
“Suspension, followed by de-registration, is an administrative power that Ibas can exercise in the case of a non co-operative bookmaker with the object of maintaining the credibility of both the register and the Ibas scheme.
“I should state that the industry has clearly demonstrated its willingness to comply with the conditions of registration. Failure in practice to comply, either by not co-operating with requests for information or failing to abide by an adjudication, automatically leads to deregistration.
“I have now taken the action to suspend this company from the Ibas register and the deregistration procedure will commence following a meeting where the facts will be presented to the Ibas board.
“I have informed the company in writing that its registration with Ibas is officially suspended with immediate effect and have requested that any references jjfrom front page to Ibas in the firm’s advertising, rules or point-of-sale material is removed.”
Among punters who are worried about Golfinggods is Surrey-based Brian Hartigan, who said: “I am owed over £5,500, some of which goes back over a year (it was only after chasing some September winnings that I discovered that older returns were outstanding).
“As each time I had requested a withdrawal my account balance reverted to zero on the website I had assumed that, as in the case with the 30-plus other bookmakers I deal with, the account had been settled. It is the only deposit account I have where refunds are made to a Mastercard.
“I have email correspondence on file in which Jason West of Golfinggods tells me after I chased payment in September 2006 that I had never been paid any of my withdrawals as I had not supplied the company with the proof of identity that they required! On September 20 he told me that a bank transfer had been sent. It hasn’t.”
Golfinggods is only the second company to have had its registration suspended by Ibas, who also withheld their membership last year before reinstating them. SSP International was suspended and eventually deregistered. The Racing Post has been unable to make contact with anyone from Golfinggods.
O’Keeffe added: “Golfinggods’ customers seeking further clarification should contact Ibas on 0207 881 2690.”
