Paddy Power ordered to pay rejected jackpot
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13 Mar 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes In October 2020, Corrine Durber, a gardener from Gloucestershire, experienced a moment that should have been synonymous with immense joy. Playing the online game Wild Hatter on Paddy Power’s platform, her screen displayed a colossal win of £1,097,132.71, the Monster Jackpot. However, his celebration was short-lived when the operator credited only £20,265.14 to his account, citing a software error. What followed was a five-year legal battle that recently culminated in a decision in his favour.
The disputed win
On 18 October 2020, Corrine Durber decided to try her luck on the online game Wild Hatter, a combination of slot machine and wheel of fortune. After accessing the second part of the game and spinning the jackpot wheel, her iPad displayed that she had won the Monster Jackpot worth £1,097,132.71. However, Paddy Power only credited £20,265.14 to her account, claiming that a software error had displayed the wrong result and that the actual win was the much smaller Daily Jackpot.
In response to Ms Durber’s claim, Paddy Power maintains that the game’s random number generator had determined that the Daily Jackpot was the correct payout and that the Monster Jackpot display was the result of a software anomaly. The operator referred to its terms and conditions, which stipulated that the results generated by the central server took precedence over the on-screen displays.
Determined to get her due, Corrine Durber took legal action against PPB Entertainment Limited, the parent company of Paddy Power, for breach of contract. Her lawyer, Mark Baldock, argued that under the rules of the game, ‘what you see is what you get’, and that the on-screen display should be considered correct and binding.
The High Court verdict
In March 2025, after a long legal battle, the High Court delivered its verdict. Judge Andrew Ritchie ruled in favour of Mrs Durber, ordering Paddy Power to pay her the sum of £1,076,867.57, corresponding to the Monster Jackpot minus the amount already paid. The judge stressed the importance of accurate game displays and criticised the operator’s negligence.
Corrine Durber expressed her relief and satisfaction after the judgement. It had been a trying ordeal, but she was pleased that the truth had prevailed. She also criticises Paddy Power for trying to deny her her rightful gain:
“But why couldn’t Paddy Power pay-up straight away instead of putting me through this legal torment?”
For its part, Paddy Power expressed regret over the incident and affirmed its commitment to fairness and customer satisfaction.
“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.”