What would you do if you won $12 million, only to be told that your victory never existed?
Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality I’ve faced since placing a series of successful bets with Safaribet, Ghana’s popular sports betting platform, in 2018.
My name is Theophilus Morgan, a passionate soccer betting enthusiast, and what should have been the pinnacle of my betting career has instead turned into a nightmare.
Between November 7 and November 24, 2018, I placed multiple bets across some of the most prestigious football leagues in the world, including the UEFA Champions League, the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and several other top European leagues.
My selections were spot-on, and I ended up winning a staggering GHC 57.3 million (roughly $12 million in 2018).
I thought I had made history with the largest soccer betting win ever recorded in Ghana—an achievement that was even recognized by Google.
However, what should have been a moment of celebration quickly took a darker turn.
After the win was confirmed and reported, Safaribet locked my account, wiped away all the evidence, and altered the figures in my account.
Fortunately, I had the foresight to take screenshots and document the entire process before my account was blocked.
Despite this, Safaribet’s actions left me without access to my winnings, and they have since refused to honor the payout.
I was not alone in my struggle. If you search my name or the phrase “SafariBet bolts with winner’s GHC 57m; pressure mounts on Gaming Commission”, you’ll find multiple articles detailing my case.
In a bid to reclaim my rightful earnings, I petitioned the Gaming Commission of Ghana through my lawyers, asking them to compel Safaribet to honor its obligations.
But, despite the orders from the Gaming Commission, Safaribet ignored all directives and continued to operate as though nothing was wrong.
As time passed, the situation only worsened.
The Gaming Commission failed to take effective action, allowing Safaribet to liquidate its assets and flee the country under suspicious circumstances, all while my case was still pending in the High Court in Accra.
This blatant disregard for the law has left me not only financially devastated but also emotionally scarred.
The Gaming Commission, which was supposed to protect the interests of the gaming public and ensure fair play, failed to uphold its statutory duties.
Though I persisted in my fight for justice, my battle became even more difficult.
After a lengthy legal struggle, I finally secured a judgment in absentia against Safaribet.
The ruling, delivered by Her Ladyship, Justice Jennifer Aba Dadzie, instructed the Gaming Commission to utilize its authority to assist me in recovering my funds.
Despite the court’s ruling and public assurances from the Gaming Commission that no one else would face a similar fate, I have yet to see a single penny.
Since 2018, I’ve been relentlessly chasing after my winnings but received nothing but silence and excuses.
To make matters worse, many family members and friends, unable to comprehend the extent of my ordeal, believe I’ve already received my winnings and am pretending otherwise.
Meanwhile, I have invested all my life savings into hiring lawyers, seeking justice, and recovering what is rightfully mine.
This has caused significant emotional distress and destabilized my life as a young man trying to build his future.
As a final plea for justice, I turn to the public, and particularly to the leaders of Ghana, for help.
I take comfort in the Akan proverb, “If you don’t sell your sickness, you won’t get medication.”
My story is not just a personal one; it is a call for help, for justice, and for the protection of every citizen who places their trust in Ghana’s gaming laws.
I am asking for the support of President-Elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, as well as other relevant state authorities, to intervene and assist me in recovering my funds from Mr. Halit Karabasoglu, the owner of Safaribet.
I cannot fight this battle alone, and I appeal to anyone who sees this message to help share my story widely.
If you come across my story, please help me by sharing it, posting it, or amplifying it in any way you can.
Your support could be the difference in bringing justice and accountability to those who exploit the system.
