Australian gambler suing over millions in betting credit

Australian gambler suing over millions in betting credit Australian Christopher Ronald Fitzsimons, 62, is suing the Minister for Gaming and Racing Graham West, TAB Limited and Tabcorp Holdings for $4,749,324 (AUD). The former solicitor is seeking the return of the money from 7291 bets he made through the credit betting facility between April 2003 and July 2006. Out of the total amount, Fitzsimons would then repay to betting agencies his winnings of $1.5 million.

According to the gambler, a $5000 weekly credit betting facility should not have been made available to him and was invalid, because he used his daughter's credit card and information to secure the betting credit. His wife and daughter are also suing the TAB for $515,000 in losses from a joint account they held with him, after Fitzsimons signed a direct debit form authorizing TAB to deposit money to the betting account with funds from the account held jointly with his wife and daughter, without their knowledge. "There was never a guarantee in place to secure the facility and therefore it should not have been given. Mr Fitzsimons was a chronic gambler and if the facility was not made available to him then the enormous volume of betting would not have occurred. He was suffering a number of psychological problems and he was addicted to gambling," Mr Fitzsimons' barrister, Todd Alexis, SC, told the court.

Published on 06/30/2008