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

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

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29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

A coroner has discovered Betfair needs to have done more to assist a gaming addict before he eliminated himself.

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, died in April 2021 after developing huge financial obligations wagering online.

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

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

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

Missed opportunities

The inquest, at Leicester Town Hall, heard before he died, Mr Ashton had been wagering more than 100 times a day, including early in the morning and late in the evening when his wife was asleep.

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

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

"The operator did not step in or engage with Mr Ashton in any meaningful method.

"Betfair could have done more in the pertinent period 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 altered the outcome for Luke."

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

Betfair was contacted us to bet9ja's welcome offer proof to the inquest as Mr Cartwright sought to develop whether the company's actions contributed to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's family stated the company needs to have identified him as an issue gambler and taken "more and stronger steps" to keep him from harm.

Betfair informed the inquest it utilized a computer algorithm to keep an eye on customer betting and that Mr Ashton was deemed "low risk".

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

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

Tragic result

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

He stated had that took place there were opportunities to get assist for Mr Ashton who had actually had actually confessed his betting problem to his partner in 2019 but later on hid the reality he had started wagering again.

Richard Clarke, the managing director of consumer relations for Flutter UKI - Betfair's moms and dad business - offered proof to the hearing and was asked by the the family's legal representatives if he felt the business must have done more.

Mr Clarke stated: "We have looked really carefully at the actions we took and we are confident we satisfied the regulatory requirement at the time.

"As a business, obviously looking at the terrible outcome here, I would enjoy to have done more."

He stated Betfair had actually presented even more safeguards since 2021, including deposit limits from clients returning from self-exclusion periods and monetary vulnerability checks, but they was available in before the firm was made mindful 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 a Prevention of Future Deaths Report with recommendations based upon the "complex and uncommon case".

After the hearing, Annie Ashton stated: "The coroner's conclusion validates what I have actually constantly thought that betting triggered Luke's death.

"It vindicates what I have actually argued the whole time that gambling is harmful, ruins households and causes suicide."

She said she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently trigger gambling firms to much better interact with clients.

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

Mrs Ashton described her partner as a "bright happy and bubbly individual" who made buddies easily.

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

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

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

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

"Over the yohaig code past 3 years we have actually made substantial modifications to our controls, consisting of obligatory deposit limits for consumers who go back to our sites after a duration of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the absolute greatest requirements in the industry and we will, naturally, incorporate additional learnings from this awful case into our systems and procedures."

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