Coral refuses to pay Rangers bet

Former bookie Albert Kinloch, 72, placed a £100 bet that Rangers would be dumped out of Scotland’s top footie division.

He placed the bet in September 2011 and Rangers ended up playing in the third division the following season after the oldco club went into liquidation.

At the Court of Session Anna Poole, QC, asked Coral’s PR Director, Simon Clare why the report on the Coral website last September stated that Rangers “had been relegated in 2012″.

Mr Clare replied: “Yes the article does state that but it was written by a freelance journalist and placed on our website.

“These articles don’t form part of our company policy.

“Our shops display the rules of the shop but we don’t hold copies of leagues rules for the SFA or the SFL.”

Ms Poole then asked if Coral has the ability to remove the post and Mr Clare replied: “We would only remove articles if they caused offence to our customers.”

Just hours after his appearance in court the article was removed.

The hearing was also told by expert witness John Fox, President of the Scottish Bookmakers Protection Association, that the bet should stand.

Mr Fox said: “It’s my opinion that the bet placed stands and should be paid.

“If someone came into my shop and asked for a bet and I took it I would pay them out.

“Coral didn’t stipulate to Mr Kinloch exactly what they meant by relegation.

“The gambling industry in this country regards Rangers as the same club prior to 2012

“Coral should have stipulated when the bet was placed that relegation means by finishing with the lowest points and they didn’t.

“The bet would be bound by the rules of the bookmakers and they should have shown Mr Kinloch the league rules if that’s the case.

“I don’t see how they cannot pay out on this bet.”