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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 discovered Betfair must have done more to assist a gambling addict before he killed himself.

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, died in April 2021 after developing up big debts wagering online.

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

Coroner Ivan Cartwright stated he was worried Betfair did not meaningfully connect or intervene when Mr Ashton's gambling activity spiked.

He concluded gambling condition was a cause of 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 at night when his spouse was asleep.

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

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

"The operator did not intervene or engage with Mr Ashton in any significant way.

"Betfair could have done more in the pertinent duration and needs to have done more in what I find was a crucial duration in between late January and April 2021.

"Opportunities were missed out on that might potentially have changed the outcome for Luke."

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

Betfair was called to provide proof 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 family said the business should have identified him as an issue gambler and taken "more and more powerful actions" to keep him from harm.

Betfair informed the inquest it utilized a computer algorithm to keep track of customer wagering which Mr Ashton was deemed "low risk".

The company said its algorithm found nothing in his wagering patterns that would trigger human intervention that may have restricted his betting.

Instead Mr Ashton was sent eight automated and generic "awareness" e-mails by the yohaig code business.

Tragic outcome

Mr Cartwright stated 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 actually had admitted his betting issue to his other half in 2019 however later on concealed the truth he had actually started betting again.

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

Mr Clarke said: "We have actually looked really thoroughly at the actions we took and we are positive we fulfilled the regulative standard at the time.

"As a business, clearly taking a look at the terrible result here, I would love to have actually done more."

He stated Betfair had actually introduced further safeguards because 2021, consisting of deposit limitations from consumers returning from self-exclusion periods and monetary 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 died as a result of his own actions.

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

After the hearing, Annie Ashton said: "The coroner's conclusion confirms what I have constantly thought that betting caused Luke's death.

"It vindicates what I have argued all along that betting is damaging, ruins households and causes suicide."

She said she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently prompt gaming firms to better engage with consumers.

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

Mrs Ashton described her hubby as a "intense happy and bubbly person" who made pals easily.

"As an other half and a dad, Luke was nothing except helpful and proud," she added.

"He was a real rock to us all however in he masked his own pain to protect us from what he was going through."

Ian Brown, primary executive of Flutter UKI, said: "We wish to restate our sincere condolences to Mrs Ashton and her family. We are genuinely sorry for their loss.

"Flutter UKI is dedicated to doing the ideal thing and developing an environment for customers to enjoy our products in a safe and sustainable way.

"Over the previous 3 years we have actually made substantial modifications to our controls, including obligatory deposit limitations for clients who return to our websites after a period of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the absolute highest standards in the industry and we will, of course, integrate extra learnings from this tragic case into our systems and procedures."

If you have been affected by any of the concerns in this story, you can go to the BBC Action Line for help.

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