Pebble Beach bettors bit the bookies – thanks to odd circumstances in a shortened Pebble Beach PGA Tournament this past weekend.
In an outcome of a golf tournament that was near – if not definitely – decided thanks to abysmal California weather conditions, bettors flocked to betting apps to place parlays on the tournament prior to the conclusion of the third round with the chance that it would ultimately be canceled.
The parlays included golfers who placed in the top five, top 10 and top 20, with some of the longer ones, including Wyndham Clark, to be declared winners as well.
If the tournament was indeed canceled due to poor weather, as CBS television commentator Jim Nantz repeatedly suggested on air, the bets would stand if they got down the bets before the end of round three.
If you bet after round three concluded, those bets were voided, as they are viewed as already decided outcomes (no holes were played after you bet).
Those round three wagers that would stand had near-guaranteed outcomes if the tournament was canceled before round four as bettors had hoped, despite having payouts upwards of 100/1.
Now, sportsbooks are left to pick up the pieces of a blunder that cumulatively could result in more than seven figures of liability.
Bettors have been carefully reading house rules.
“In the event that there is a change to or decrease in the booked number of rounds or openings played in the competition, wagers set on this market will stand if 36 holes of the tournament have been completed,” DraftKings Sportsbook’s house rules state. “If less than 36 holes have been completed, or futures bets were placed after the last shot of the previous completed round, bets will be void.”
Any bets made on Clark (100/1 at open) or any parlays were placed prior to the end of Round 3 on FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars will be graded as winners.
But DraftKings users might have to wait a bit longer, as bets are currently under review from the sportsbook.
“We are currently reviewing the settlement of certain bets placed on this weekend’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am following the cancellation of the final round due to severe weather,” a DraftKings spokesperson told The Post. “DraftKings’ house rules are currently the same as they were at the start of this event.”
Clearly, DraftKings could be looking at some seven-figure liability, considering the massive potential that a same-game parlay could garner in a payout.
You’ll notice that DraftKings mentioned that their house rules have not changed.
In a now-deleted post on X, a conspiracy theory had gained traction that DraftKings had changed their house rules to get them out of a sticky situation. Those claims are unfounded, and the posts were deleted.
“Bets placed after this time (23:40:20 GMT/UTC ) will be void as per our rules,” DraftKings’ X profile, @DK_Assist noted.” It looks like you placed your wager at 10:20 PM EST which would be after that timeframe.”
On FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars, you were already paid out if the bets were placed even a minute before the end of round three.
DraftKings might make you sweat on your massive parlay, as they’ve successfully bartered with gaming commissions in the past, as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission bailed them out of poorly priced props in a Lakers-Nuggets Oct. 24 game.
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Massachusetts voided 138 same-game parlay wagers and more than $700,000 in winnings.
If your bet goes to the state gaming commissions you could be in good shape if the decision goes to New Jersey, which forced DraftKings to pay out their October mistake.