William Hill Glitch Row Grows as 35,000 Told To Repay Incorrect Jackpots

35,000 jackpot payouts triggered by major William Hill software glitch Players report six-figure wins before accounts frozen and funds disputed Total financial exposure likely tens of millions, not hundreds

A software glitch meant that William Hill UK paid out 35,072 online slot jackpots compared with just 518 over the equivalent period a week earlier, according to an incident report from the operator. Thousands of players believed they had won life-changing sums after a major jackpot glitch. Now many are being asked to return the money, sparking disputes and legal questions. (Image: Shutterstock) On March 23, Casino.org reported that an unknown number of players of the online Jackpot Drop game received the erroneous payouts, with several posting on social media that their “wins” amounted to six-figure sums. The news that there may be around 35,000 beneficiaries suggests the error runs into tens of millions of pounds – possibly more. Accounts Frozen Players said on social media William Hill had frozen their accounts and was now requesting they return any funds withdrawn to their bank before the suspensions were applied. “During a routine review of platform activity, we identified an issue affecting the Jackpot Drop game which resulted in incorrect sums being credited to players’ balances and withdrawals being processed incorrectly,” the operator told players. “As a consequence of this issue, funds were incorrectly credited and, in some cases, withdrawn from several customer accounts, including yours, that were not generated through valid or properly functioning gameplay.”

William Hill is offering customers around 11% of withdrawn funds as a settlement. But that might prove tricky for some players, particularly if the money has already been spent on debts or mortgages.

The BBC spoke to Stephen Harvey, a postman with two children, who believed he had won more than £330,000 playing the game. Harvey, who lives in rented accommodation, thought he would finally be ab