Luke Ashton: Betfair Criticised by Coroner Over Gambler's Death

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Luke Ashton: Betfair criticised by coroner over gambler's death

29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

A coroner has actually found Betfair needs to have done more to assist a gaming addict before he killed himself.

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, passed away in April 2021 after building up substantial financial obligations betting online.

An inquest heard he staked bigger amounts chasing his losses in the weeks before his death.

Coroner Ivan Cartwright said he was worried Betfair did not meaningfully interact or step in when Mr Ashton's betting activity surged.

He concluded betting disorder was a reason for Mr Ashton's death.

Missed chances

The inquest, at Leicester Town Hall, heard before he passed away, Mr Ashton had actually been betting more than 100 times a day, including early in the early morning and late during the night when his spouse was asleep.

He positioned 1,229 bets in March 2021 and on one day of that month alone he deposited ₤ 2,500.

Mr Cartwright stated: "He was evaluated as being a low-risk bettor although his activity was more extensive in the 10 weeks prior to his death.

"The operator did not intervene or connect with Mr Ashton in any meaningful method.

"Betfair could have done more in the yohaig code relevant duration and needs to have done more in what I find was a turning point between late January and April 2021.

"Opportunities were missed that might perhaps have changed the outcome for Luke."

Mr Ashton's body was discovered in a rented flat near Mexborough, South Yorkshire, after his partner reported him missing and his phone was tracked using an app.

Betfair was called to bet9ja's welcome offer evidence to the inquest as Mr Cartwright sought to establish whether the firm's actions contributed to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's household said the business ought to have identified him as a problem gambler and taken "more and more powerful actions" to keep him from damage.

Betfair informed the inquest it used a computer algorithm to monitor consumer wagering which Mr Ashton was deemed "low risk".

The business stated its algorithm found absolutely nothing in his wagering patterns that would trigger human intervention that may have restricted his betting.

Instead Mr Ashton was sent 8 automated and generic "awareness" emails by the business.

Tragic result

Mr Cartwright said he was "perplexed" the algorithm did not flag Mr Ashton as a problem gambler.

He said had that took place there were chances to get help for Mr Ashton who had had admitted his gambling problem to his other half in 2019 but later concealed the truth he had started betting again.

Richard Clarke, the managing director of client relations for Flutter UKI - Betfair's moms and dad business - offered evidence to the hearing and was asked by the the yohaig code household's legal representatives if he felt the company must have done more.

Mr Clarke said: "We have looked extremely thoroughly at the actions we took and we are confident we met the regulatory requirement at the time.

"As a business, clearly taking a look at the tragic result here, I would like to have done more."

He said Betfair had actually introduced even more safeguards considering that 2021, including deposit limitations from customers returning from self-exclusion periods and financial vulnerability checks, however they was available in before the firm was warned of Mr Ashton's death.

Mr Cartwright came to a narrative conclusion that Luke passed away as an outcome of his own actions.

He said he would prepare a Prevention of Future Deaths Report with suggestions based on the "complex and uncommon case".

After the hearing, Annie Ashton stated: "The coroner's conclusion confirms what I have always thought that gambling caused Luke's death.

"It vindicates what I have argued the whole time that gaming is damaging, ruins families and causes suicide."

She said she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently trigger gaming companies to much better communicate with customers.

She stated Betfair's assessment of her spouse as "low danger" was not fit for purpose.

Mrs Ashton explained her spouse as a "bright delighted and bubbly person" who made buddies quickly.

"As a spouse and a daddy, Luke was nothing short of helpful and happy," she added.

"He was a real rock to us all but in truth he masked his own discomfort to secure us from what he was going through."

Ian Brown, president of Flutter UKI, stated: "We wish to repeat our genuine acknowledgements to Mrs Ashton and her family. We are genuinely sorry for their loss.

"Flutter UKI is committed to doing the best thing and developing an environment for customers to enjoy our products in a safe and sustainable method.

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"Over the yohaig code past three years we have made significant modifications to our controls, including compulsory deposit limitations for consumers who go back to our sites after a period of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the outright highest standards in the industry and we will, obviously, include extra knowings from this promotion code awful case into our systems and procedures."

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