Date Published: June 15, 2026, 06:15h.
Updated on: June 15, 2026, 06:15h.
- Australian bettor who litigated against sportsbook now co-owns betting platforms
- Veall alleged he was permitted to gamble large sums while under the influence
A bettor from Australia has taken legal action against a sportsbook, accusing it of failing to safeguard him while he was inebriated. Now, he co-owns a collection of online gambling sites and is receiving criticism from users regarding restrictive account policies and terms.
Winton Veall, a wealthy 75-year-old businessman, filed a lawsuit against Australian betting firm TopSport in 2022, asserting that he endured “psychological harm” after making a series of bets from 2016 to May 2019 while heavily intoxicated, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.
In one incident, Veall contended that he lost A$406,000 (US$264,000) on 28 sport wagers between 3:30 PM and 5:39 PM on a Friday after consuming a beer, six glasses of wine, and eight cocktails, according to court documentation.
The matter was later settled confidentially out of court, with no clarity on whether any financial compensation was exchanged.
Veall hails from a well-known Melbourne family and has experienced a diverse life, encompassing business enterprises, property investments, and even a stint as a lounge entertainer.
Fun fact: his brother, Duncan Veall, was a keyboardist for the iconic Australian rock band Mondo Rock.
Customer Complaints
Currently, Veall finds himself on the other side of the betting counter, listed as a co-owner and co-director of several online sportsbooks operating under licenses in New South Wales and Victoria. These include platforms such as BetNow, PuntZone, BetNova, DashBet, MidasBet, and OnlyBets, according to reports from The Herald.
When approached by the newspaper, Veall claimed that the lawsuit had no impact on his involvement in the gambling sector.
“These are totally separate matters,” he stated.
The Herald reported on one customer’s complaint related to BetNow, one of the sportsbooks associated with Veall.
The customer stated he won A$2,598.55 on a horse-racing bet but received only A$2,000. BetNow cited a clause in its terms and conditions that limits payouts on specific exotic bets, such as quinellas, trifectas, superfectas (known as “first fours” in Australia), and multi-race bets similar to Pick 4s, to a maximum of A$2,000.
The customer further claimed that his account was frozen and subjected to verification procedures after the win.
Following The Herald’s inquiry, BetNow issued the remaining amount as a “goodwill gesture” but asserted that their actions adhered to their terms and conditions and governing regulations.
Mixed Feedback
Veall mentioned that his business partner, Da He—formerly an employee at Tabcorp and Bet365—manages daily operations.
However, The Herald also highlighted negative online reviews related to the betting platforms linked to Veall and He, including complaints about account withdrawal and verification processes. Nonetheless, some customers praised their experiences with customer support.