WagerWeb got this one wrong. We recommended that JDS be paid in full.
Based on what we know, their software limit for parlays, including normal parlays, open parlays, and also round robin parlays, has been maxing out at 100K. This is what the bet slip showed, so it is unreasonable for players to have to find an internal rules page to find text about betting limits.
What's more, as JDS pointed out, the ambiguity of their parlay limit language confused even CS. An open parlay is not a 'group of parlays', that'd be referring to a round robin. Their rule reads as follows (and we suggested they clarify it, though worth noting BMR's review of them also listed the parlay limit at $50K).
Maximum payout is $50,000 per group of parlays. On Round Robins, the maximum payout will be considered for the WHOLE group of parlays and not for each parlay, in other words, a max of $50,000 will be paid on any Round Robin. The max payout for any contest is $50,000.
This rule was not changed after JDS' parlay. We
verified through the wayback machine that it has been place for a few years.
JDS was in a situation where his last leg at -110 could have only produced the following outcomes: Lose or give up $39K in winnings. Had the software misconfiguration been identified, he would've assuredly wagered on a -1200 or shorter side given that his parlay would've paid a bit over $45k after the 9th leg.
Industry precedent establishes the bet should be paid here. The odds were valid, the bet had action for ten days, and as he said, he had been wagering the same types of bets for quite some time. The onus is not on him to make sure the quoted software payout is correct or in line with limits - that's the responsibility of the house.
Sometimes otherwise good books get things wrong. But it's not a decision we can stand by. We have lowered their position on the rating guide to no longer be on the top table of recommended sites, and have lowered their rating. We'll also update some of the language within their review page.
As far as his winnings, we were assured the 50K is being paid as normal per established payout rules.