1. Introduction
These General Rules for Sports Betting apply to all sports wagering activities conducted through the Ladbrokes platform in Ireland. The rules serve as the foundational terms governing bet placement, acceptance, settlement, and dispute resolution. By placing a bet, the customer confirms understanding and acceptance of these rules in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions and any sport-specific or promotional terms.
All users are required to review these General Rules prior to betting. Where individual sports have bespoke conditions, those take precedence over the general provisions outlined herein. These rules apply to online, mobile, and in-shop bets unless stated otherwise. All references to times and dates are in accordance with Irish local time unless otherwise specified.
2. Account Eligibility and Responsibilities
Customers must be at least 18 years old and meet the legal requirements for gambling under Irish law. Each customer must hold a valid Ladbrokes account, registered with accurate and current personal information. Ladbrokes reserves the right to request proof of identity, age, and address at any time.
It is the customer’s responsibility to maintain confidentiality of login credentials. Any bets placed using a valid username and password will be considered valid and binding. Customers are also responsible for ensuring their payment methods are legitimate and authorised. Ladbrokes may suspend or close accounts if fraudulent or unauthorised activity is suspected.
Self-exclusion, deposit limits, and other responsible gambling tools are available and can be activated via the customer account dashboard. If an account is subject to exclusion or limitation, no bets may be placed or honoured during that period.
3. Bet Acceptance and Confirmation
A bet is deemed accepted once it has been registered on Ladbrokes’ servers and confirmed by a valid transaction ID. The bet receipt is the primary confirmation of acceptance. Customers are advised to check bet details thoroughly before confirming. Errors identified post-confirmation will not render a bet void unless due to a material system failure.
Ladbrokes may decline any bet without providing a reason. Bets that are incomplete, fail due to technical issues, or exceed market limits may be rejected. If acceptance occurs in error, Ladbrokes reserves the right to correct or void the bet. Bets are subject to market availability and may be suspended at any time.
Where duplicate bets are placed on the same selection or market, all bets will stand unless a clear error or breach of terms is detected.
4. Types of Bets Offered
Platform offers a range of bet types across multiple sports and events. These include but are not limited to:
- Single Bets: Wagering on one outcome.
- Multiple Bets: Accumulator bets involving two or more selections.
- System Bets: Permutations such as Yankees, Trixies, and Lucky 15s.
- Forecast and Tricast: For events requiring precise finishing order.
- Handicap and Spread Betting: Adjusted outcomes based on handicaps.
Availability of bet types depends on the event and market configuration. Some markets may be limited to singles or fixed odds. Where promotional or enhanced odds apply, standard market rules still govern unless otherwise stated.
5. Bet Settlement Policy
All bets are settled based on official results as confirmed by the sport’s governing body. Where available, settlement is made using verified data sources or official event records. Provisional results may be used for immediate settlement, but Ladbrokes reserves the right to amend settlements based on later official revisions.
If an event is declared void, postponed beyond a defined timeframe (see Section 7), or abandoned with no result, affected bets may be voided or settled as per the specific sport’s rules. Bets placed in error due to a manifest mistake or technical failure may also be voided.
Each-way bets are settled in accordance with the advertised place terms at the time of bet placement. Dead heats and non-runners are subject to rule adjustments as outlined in Sections 7 and 8.
6. Market Rules and Specific Sports Guidelines
All markets are subject to specific terms related to the sport and event type. Customers are advised to consult the dedicated rules pages for:
- Football (e.g. 90-minute rule, VAR-related outcomes)
- Horse Racing (e.g. Rule 4 deductions, non-runners)
- Tennis (e.g. minimum number of sets for action)
- Golf (e.g. playoff rules, tied positions)
- American Sports (e.g. overtime rules in NFL/NBA)
Where a market rule differs from the general policy, the market-specific rule will apply. Bets placed on misconfigured markets, or those presented with incorrect information, may be corrected or voided as per internal review procedures.
Market suspensions may occur at any time without notice. Once suspended, no additional bets will be accepted on that market unless explicitly reopened.
7. Abandonments, Postponements, and Voided Bets
If an event is abandoned before completion and not resumed within 72 hours, all bets on that event will be void unless the result was already determined. If the event resumes within 72 hours, bets will stand unless otherwise specified in sport-specific rules.
Postponed events must commence within 72 hours of the original scheduled time for bets to remain valid. For tournaments or league matches with floating schedules, longer postponements may be permitted.
If an event is restructured, rescheduled to a neutral venue, or significantly altered (e.g. change in number of participants), Platform reserves the right to void or resettle bets depending on material impact.
8. Dead Heats and Rule 4 Deductions
In the case of a dead heat, affected bets are settled in accordance with standard dead heat rules. Winnings are calculated by dividing the stake by the number of tied participants and applying the full odds to the resulting amount.
Rule 4 deductions apply in horse and greyhound racing where a participant is withdrawn after the bet is placed. The deduction amount depends on the price of the withdrawn runner at the time of withdrawal. Deductions are applied to winnings only and calculated per industry-standard tables.
Where a non-runner is declared and no Rule 4 applies, the bet will be void for that selection and adjusted accordingly for multiples.
9. Betting Limits and Maximum Payouts
Platform imposes minimum and maximum stake limits, which vary by market, platform, and account status. Stake limits may be adjusted based on customer behaviour or internal risk controls.
Maximum payouts differ by sport and event type. For example:
- Horse racing (UK/IRE): Up to €1,000,000
- Football (Top tier): Up to €1,000,000
- Other sports and leagues: Lower thresholds apply
Full details are available in the Maximum Payout Limits section of the Terms and Conditions. If a bet exceeds the allowable payout, winnings may be capped accordingly.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that bets placed are within limits. Ladbrokes may void or adjust any bet that exceeds published thresholds.
10. In-Play and Live Betting Rules
In-play betting is offered on selected events and subject to rapid market fluctuations. Customers must acknowledge potential delays in broadcast feeds, live data, and bet confirmations. All in-play bets are subject to a bet delay, which may vary depending on the event and customer account profile.
Once an in-play market is suspended, all outstanding bets are void unless accepted in error. Platform does not guarantee uninterrupted access to live markets and accepts no responsibility for missed bets due to technical failure or latency.
Where an in-play bet is accepted during a material event (e.g. goal, red card), the bet may be voided or resettled at Ladbrokes’ discretion based on fairness and timing.
11. Errors, Disputes, and Malfunctions
Platform reserves the right to correct any obvious errors in pricing, market configuration, or bet acceptance. Where a manifest error is identified, affected bets may be voided or settled at the correct odds.
In the event of a dispute between the customer and Ladbrokes, all reasonable efforts will be made to resolve the matter promptly. If resolution is not achieved, the case may be referred to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body or regulator.
Technical malfunctions affecting bet placement or market availability will not render a bet void unless material impact is proven. Customers are encouraged to report discrepancies promptly via official channels.
12. Rule Amendments and Version Control
These rules may be updated periodically to reflect regulatory changes, product modifications, or internal risk policies. All changes will take effect immediately upon publication. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of the current version of the rules.
Customers should review this page regularly to remain informed of applicable betting conditions. Historical versions of these rules may be made available upon request for compliance purposes.
Where a conflict arises between the current version and a previous version relied upon by the customer, the version in force at the time of bet acceptance will apply unless stated otherwise.
