Bookmakers face rare dual settlement after CAF awards Morocco AFCON 2025 win
Industry practice generally does not require bookmakers to reopen settled markets after a regulatory ruling issued well after an event has concluded.
Morocco.- Bookmakers across the world are revising settlement positions on the AFCON final match between Senegal and Morocco after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result and awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory.
The original final, in which Senegal lifted the trophy with a sole goal in the 94th minute, had already been settled by bookmakers in line with standard industry regulations. These rules typically require bets to be paid based on the result at the conclusion of the match and the official presentation. As a result, operators had already distributed winnings across multiple markets, including match results, outright winners and related selections.
Following CAF’s administrative ruling to change the match outcome, bookmakers face an unusual dual payout situation. While they are not legally or contractually required to do so, several betting operators have decided to settle wagers again in favour of Morocco as tournament winners.
Companies such as Paddy Power, Betclic, BoyleSports, Betfair and Sky Bet have confirmed they will honour wagers based on the revised official result, without reversing the winnings previously paid on Senegal. They cited customer fairness and brand trust as key reasons for absorbing the additional financial exposure.
Industry practice generally does not require bookmakers to reopen settled markets after a regulatory ruling issued well after an event has concluded. However, in this case, companies indicated that the scale and official nature of CAF’s decision influenced their response.
Industry analysts suggest that the situation could have financial consequences for the sector, as bookmakers are now paying out on two opposing outcomes in the same market.
The development highlights the operational risks tied to post-event rulings and could lead to reviews of settlement terms in future betting contracts, especially for international tournaments overseen by external sporting bodies.
