Michael Jonas*, a resident of Osun State, has narrated how 1xBet refused to make good on its promise of a PlayStation 5 console, a prize he won after partaking in a task the online betting platform organised.

Jonas told FIJ on Monday that the online task 1xBet tagged ‘1xBet Secret Santa‘ was organised in December.

“On December 19, 2024, 1xBet made a post on its social media handles, encouraging its followers to participate in a Secret Santa task,” said Jonas.

“Participants were told to follow 1xBet on all their social media handles and drop their client ID and location in the comments section.

“We were also told to ensure that our comments attracted as many likes and comments as possible so we could stand a chance of emerging winners of eye-catching prizes.”

On December 30, 2024, 1xBet reached out to selected winners, including Jonas, to announce that they had won PlayStation 5 consoles.

READ ALSO: REVEALED: 14 of 43 Betting Platforms Declared Unlicensed by Lagos Gov’t Have Federal Approval

“1xBet initially promised that the prize would be delivered to our residences, on or before January 10, 2025. All through January, however, we did not hear from the betting platform,” Jonas said.

“This then prompted me to reach out to them again via their official X handle, demanding to know what was going on.

“This was when one of the betting platform’s officials reached out to tell me that the conditions surrounding the award of a PlayStation 5 had changed.

“The official then added that unspecified funds would soon be credited into our 1xBet betting accounts and that we would be able to withdraw the funds without having to wager on games.

“To date, however, 1xBet has refused to make good its promise of delivering either the PlayStation 5 or the funds that were later promised to us.

“At a point, they even told us that payments were already being processed. To date, we have not received anything.

“They have continued to give excuses anytime they are contacted. As a matter of fact, they have stopped responding to selected winners altogether.

“This is March and we still haven’t heard any news from 1xBet on how we’ll get our prizes.”

READ ALSO: ‘5 Persons Killed’ — How a Bet Started Intertribal Clash in Lagos’ Ile-Epo

ANOTHER PRIZE WINNER MAKES SAME CLAIM

Uwem Francis*, a Lagos resident who also won a PlayStation 5 from the competition organised by 1xBet, told FIJ a story that wasn’t different from Jonas’.

“Two months after it was announced that we had won PlayStation 5 consoles, 1xBet later informed us that due to some internal challenges they were having, the prize had been monetised,” said Francis.

“The platform also said the funds were going to be credited into our 1xBet accounts and that we would be able to make withdrawals without having to place bets with them.

“Since then, however, it’s been excuses upon excuses. It is beginning to look and sound like a scam from 1xBet. This is not nice. Since December?”

TERSE RESPONSE FROM 1XBET

On Monday, FIJ sent an email to 1xBet’s information and accounting units, asking questions on why the PlayStation 5 prizes promised later changed into a decision to disburse funds into the various winners’ 1xBet accounts.

READ ALSO: ANALYSIS: Nigeria Is Raking in Money From Gambling. What About Addicts?

FIJ also asked the online betting platform why the funds later promised had not been credited into the winners’ accounts to date.

Interestingly, a 1xBet official, who did not mention his or her name, issued the following response on the same day:

“We do not provide any personal information to the third parties. The owner of the account should contact us directly using the linked email address.”

The affected winners had reached out to 1xBet on numerous occasions via emails and other social media platforms, but the issue remains unresolved.

*Names of winners have been changed for sources’ safety.