Universities giving offers to people that don't meet entry requirements?

Recently I've been visiting loads of universities and sitting in on talks in my sixth form about applying to university. Most people I've spoken to (including one of the lecturers at York) have said that universities will often give you an offer even if you don't meet the minimum entry requirements?
Obviously if you're predicted CCC and you're applying for an AAA course they won't give you an offer, but for example an ABC student applying for an ABB course may get an offer.
I was wondering if this is true? Someone I spoke to today said that because universities now get more money for more students, it makes sense to an extent. Do any of you have experiences getting offers with grades below what they were asking for?
Thanks!

at my uni for law the offer is AAA. However a lot of students have said to be that they have got in for ABB.