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

29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

A coroner has actually found Betfair ought to have done more to assist a gambling addict before he eliminated himself.

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, passed away in April 2021 after developing substantial debts betting online.

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

Coroner Ivan Cartwright said he was worried Betfair did not meaningfully interact or intervene when Mr Ashton's gaming activity spiked.

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

Missed opportunities

The inquest, at Leicester Town Hall, heard before he died, Mr Ashton had actually been betting more than 100 times a day, consisting of early in the early and late at night when his other half 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 examined as being a low-risk gambler 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 relevant duration and should have done more in what I discover was a turning point in between late January and April 2021.

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

Mr Ashton's body was found in a leased 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 evidence to the inquest as Mr Cartwright looked for to develop whether the company's actions contributed to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's family stated the yohaig code company should have determined him as a problem bettor and taken "more and more powerful actions" to keep him from damage.

Betfair informed the inquest it used a computer algorithm to keep an eye on consumer betting and that Mr Ashton was considered "low danger".

The company said its algorithm found absolutely nothing in his betting patterns that would set off human intervention that may have limited his gambling.

Instead Mr Ashton was sent out eight automated and generic "awareness" emails by the company.

Tragic result

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

He said had that happened there were chances to get help for Mr Ashton who had had confessed his betting problem to his better half in 2019 however later concealed the reality he had actually begun betting once again.

Richard Clarke, the handling director of consumer relations for Flutter UKI - Betfair's moms and dad business - provided proof to the hearing and was asked by the the household's lawyers if he felt the yohaig code company ought to have done more.

Mr Clarke stated: "We have looked very thoroughly at the actions we took and we are positive we fulfilled the regulative requirement at the time.

"As a company, clearly taking a look at the awful outcome here, I would love to have done more."

He said Betfair had actually presented even more safeguards since 2021, including deposit limits from clients returning from self-exclusion durations and monetary vulnerability checks, however they was available in before the company was made aware of Mr Ashton's death.

Mr Cartwright concerned a narrative conclusion that Luke died as an outcome of his own actions.

He said he would prepare an Avoidance of Future Deaths Report with suggestions based upon the "complex and uncommon case".

After the hearing, Annie Ashton said: "The coroner's conclusion verifies what I have always thought that gaming triggered Luke's death.

"It vindicates what I have actually argued the whole time that betting is destructive, ruins families and triggers suicide."

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

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

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

"As an other half and a dad, Luke was absolutely nothing except supportive and happy," she included.

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

Ian Brown, primary executive of Flutter UKI, stated: "We wish to repeat our sincere condolences to Mrs Ashton and her household. We are truly sorry for their loss.

"Flutter UKI is devoted to doing the right thing and developing an environment for clients to enjoy our items in a safe and sustainable method.

"Over the previous 3 years we have actually made significant modifications to our controls, consisting of obligatory deposit limits for customers who return to our sites after a period of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the absolute greatest requirements in the industry and we will, obviously, incorporate additional learnings from this promotion code tragic case into our systems and processes."

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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