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Punters are waiting for answers after they were allegedly unable to make withdrawals by bookmaker Bet Deck, only for the site to go \u201cunder maintenance\u201d during the middle of the Melbourne Cup carnival.<\/p>\n
Some punters have thousands of dollars tied up their betting accounts, which they say they haven\u2019t been able to access since the bookmaker site went down on Oaks Day, with the message \u201csite under maintenance\u201d. Those punters include former clients of Bbet, which recently merged and transferred betting accounts to Bet Deck.<\/p>\n
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Punters have allegedly been unable to withdraw funds from their Bet Deck accounts, with the site \u2018under maintenance\u2019.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Erin Jonasson; Supplied<\/cite><\/p>\n An industry source familiar with the bookmaking landscape \u2013 who asked not to be named, so they could speak freely \u2013 estimated Bet Deck and Bbet would have between 150,000 and 200,000 customers, although it was likely only 10 to 25 per cent of those customers would be active.<\/p>\n The bookmaker is licensed with the Northern Territory Racing Commission, which said it was aware of Bet Deck\u2019s operational issues affecting customers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe racing commission is an independent statutory authority that operates as an administrative and quasi-judicial tribunal with powers to regulate the racing and betting industries of the NT,\u201d the commission\u2019s chair Alastair Shields said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe commission is aware of the issue and are working with The Bet Deck [Pty Ltd] in relation to the matter and anticipates that The Bet Deck will be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n A Bet Deck notice to a client.<\/span><\/p>\n A majority owner in Bet Deck, Luke Behrmann, told this masthead that directors were in negotiations for the bookmaker to be sold.<\/p>\n \u201cBet Deck has been in some sales negotiations in recent times,\u201d Behrmann said.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess there\u2019s no for sale sign, but we\u2019ve had some interested parties in recent times.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have had negotiations with a couple of parties about selling the business.\u201d<\/p>\n However, he declined to answer other questions about Bet Deck and its operations, including allegations from customers that they were unable to withdraw their money before the site went under maintenance, and pointed to Jeremy Turner as Bet Deck\u2019s authorised spokesperson.<\/p>\n Clients remain in the dark as to whether they\u2019ll be able to regain access to their funds.<\/p>\n Three punters spoke to this masthead on the condition of anonymity, in order to not jeopardise their chances of getting repaid.<\/p>\n One said he believed there was more than $3000 in his account but said he hadn\u2019t been able to see his balance since the site went down. He alleges he tried to withdraw funds before the site went down, only to be told he hadn\u2019t turned over the deposited amount, which he denies.<\/p>\n Another punter said he was unable to access $1200 in his account. He had been a Bet Deck client for at least two years.<\/p>\n Both punters said they were regularly induced to continue betting with the bookmaker thanks to deposit bonuses \u2013 an incentive where the bookmaker matches a deposit with bonus bets or cash, sometimes receiving the offer twice-weekly.<\/p>\n A third punter said he had a withdrawal approved by Bet Deck two weeks ago, but the funds never made it to his bank account, only for him to also receive a message telling him he hadn\u2019t met the turnover requirement.<\/p>\n Besides confirming Bet Deck was in negotiations to be sold, Behrmann declined to answer more questions about Bet Deck, saying he was a director but only a minority shareholder. He referred this masthead to Bet Deck\u2019s founder Jeremy Turner, but Turner also declined to answer questions.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a current director and minor shareholder in The Bet Deck but do not hold an operational role so I am unable to answer the majority of your questions,\u201d Turner said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt present my understanding is the ASIC register would reflect the current shareholdings of The Bet Deck and I am aware that The Bet Deck is in discussions with the NTRC on a few items.\u201d<\/p>\n An ASIC search lists Turner as a 40 per cent shareholder in The Bet Deck. A business named Waves Main Street Pty Ltd, fully owned by Behrmann, is a 20 per cent shareholder, while Baby Co Behrmann Pty Ltd \u2013 jointly owned by Luke and Claire Behrmann \u2013 owns the other 40 per cent of The Bet Deck.<\/p>\n Luke and Claire Behrmann were also the majority owners of Bbet. Turner worked as Bbet\u2019s operations manager from October 2018 until December 2021, before founding Bet Deck.<\/p>\n Turner says he sold down to a 31 per cent shareholding of Bet Deck six weeks ago when his operational role at the bookmaker ended.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n