History

The IBAS service was created and launched by journalists in the UK in 1998. Mirror Group Newspaper, which published a daily racing and betting newspaper, The Sporting Life, recognised and promoted the need for a service consumers could turn to when they felt unfairly treated by a bookmaker or other gambling service. At that time there was no protection in law for consumers of betting products.

IBAS has grown steadily since, considering a range of disputes covering gambling businesses operating in all sectors. We have examined and adjudicated on claims from consumers in every continent. We have found that although local laws, regulations and customs differ, the common themes in gambling disputes seem to affect consumers and businesses the same or similar way wherever they are based.

Since our launch we have considered over 110,000 formal requests for dispute resolution and provided informal advice to consumers on tens of thousands of further cases.