Australian bookmaker Neds withheld almost $47,000 in winnings from punter David Kendrick after suspecting he was operating a "bowler account" — placing bets on behalf of Ahmed Hasna, a notorious Melbourne problem gambler banned from Crown Casino and blacklisted by online bookmakers. The case, heard at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, highlights how bookies police terms and conditions to stop banned or high-risk gamblers circumventing restrictions by using third parties to place bets on their behalf.

Kendrick, who lodged legal action against Neds in March 2024, sought a rehearing after his original claim was struck out in February last year, saying he missed the directions hearing because he had changed his email and phone number. Neds, contesting the case through parent company Entain Group (which also owns Ladbrokes in the UK), argued Kendrick had breached its terms by acting as a front for Hasna and by borrowing gambling funds from loan sharks. Entain's counsel told the tribunal that account statements showed money moving from Hasna into Kendrick's account before flowing into his wagering account, and that Kendrick had attempted to redact these transactions with a marker pen. Kendrick has already had $38,800 in deposits refunded but continues to pursue the withheld $46,699 in winnings, which Entain maintains he has no legal entitlement to.