JONNY and his best mate Joan had the Australian public captivated when a friendly bet turned sour.

The dispute arose from a bet placed during a match between the Crocs and the Raptors. Jonny, a die-hard Raptors fan, confidently predicted a resounding victory.

Joan said I will take $1,000 on the Crocs.

Jonny said if you put on $3,000, I will give you five to one odds.

Joan agreed, standing to win $15,000.

After a thrilling game that went down to the wire, the Crocs emerged victorious, and Joan claimed her winnings.

However, Jonny refused to pay.

The disagreement escalated into a heated exchange, and eventually, Joan decided to take legal action.

The case went to Court, where both friends presented their versions of the events.

Joan argued that the bet was a serious wager, made with clear intent, and that she had stated to Jonny that she wanted to electronically transfer the $3,000 prior to the game.

She also explained that she was confident in the Crocs as she knew their best player was returning from injury.

She also stated that she wished to use the potential winnings to fund an overseas trip to visit her sister.

Jonny’s statement to the Court referred to previous similar circumstances and other scenarios where it had been found that the bet was only a casual interaction between friends, made in a light-hearted manner, and that there was no intention to create a legally enforceable contract.

The Court considered the evidence presented by both parties, including the nature of the bet, the circumstances under which it was made, and the intentions of the parties involved.

In its ruling, the Court found that while the bet may have been made in a casual setting, the parties’ actions and statements indicated a clear intention to create a legally binding agreement.

As such, the Court found in favour of Joan.

Thank you to Anthony Fogarty for his assistance with this column. Email Manny Wood, principal solicitor at TB Law at manny@tblaw.net.au or call him on (02) 66 487 487.

This fictional column is only accurate at today’s date and cannot be relied upon as legal advice.

By Manny WOOD, Solicitor