After a major tussle, Centrebet will now have plenty more money to put back into marketing now that it has won its case against the Norwegian gambler who lost $15 million. The gambler, Bjarte Baasland, lost the grand sum when he wagered on Bet365 and Centrebet several years.
Bartje Baasland – Son of the Norwegian Bishop Ernst Oddvar Baasland who resigned in 2009
Baasland, the son of a Norwegian bishop, first made waves back in 2009 when he elected to sue both of the major online gambling companies for negligence.
In addition to the lawsuit, Baasland accused the companies of providing aggressive bonuses to lure him into continuing gameplay, insisting that the fact that he had a gambling problem should have been more obvious to the companies.
He went on to argue that neither company had the right to continue with his action when the homeland did not permit such actions.
Eventually, Bet365 had been dropped from this docket, but Centrebet has remained on the case because it offers the choice of wagering on Norwegian sporting events using Norwegian currency. The Supreme Court of Norway has sought to claim jurisdiction with what was becoming a major public case.
The only problem with this, however, was the fact that Baasland had actually conducted the majority of his gambling from hotels when traveling abroad, which naturally makes the jurisdictional waters a bit muddied. In addition, Baasland was revealed to have been borrowing much of the betting money from members of his own family, informing those he had borrowed from that he lost the money not to gambling, but to “misguided investments” when starting a firm in the Czech Republic.
This may actually serve as a lesson for many mobile users out there. While it may be the user’s loss, it can also be the loss of many others since the money was borrowed on the pretense of “investing.” Problem gambling is still a major problem, but many still wonder how nobody noticed that there was a problem occurring.
This is a lesson that must be taken seriously in this new world where Android and iPhone casinos are so abundant. This industry is growing very rapidly as more companies launch various promotions to try and draw in more players, and they’re certainly working.
However, it is against the terms and conditions to disguise where the funds come from, so if a user wins with illegitimate funds, they will not receive winnings. With that in mind, do not follow Baasland’s lead; take care and have fun.
