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

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

29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

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

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, passed away in April 2021 after building up huge financial obligations wagering 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 step in when Mr Ashton’s gaming activity surged.

He concluded gambling disorder was a cause of Mr Ashton’s death.

Missed chances

The inquest, at Leicester Town Hall, heard before he passed away, Mr Ashton had been betting more than 100 times a day, consisting of early in the early 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 extensive in the 10 weeks prior to his death.

“The operator did not intervene or interact with Mr Ashton in any significant way.

“Betfair might have done more in the pertinent period and must have done more in what I discover was a vital period between late January and April 2021.

“Opportunities were missed that might possibly have altered the outcome for Luke.”

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

Betfair was contacted us to give proof to the inquest as Mr Cartwright looked for to establish whether the firm’s actions added to Mr Ashton’s death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton’s family said the company should have identified him as a problem gambler and taken “more and stronger actions” to keep him from damage.

Betfair told the inquest it used a computer system algorithm to keep track of client wagering which Mr Ashton was considered “low danger”.

The company stated its algorithm found absolutely nothing in his betting patterns that would set off human intervention that might have restricted his betting.

Instead Mr Ashton was sent 8 automated and generic “awareness” e-mails by the company.

Tragic result

Mr Cartwright stated he was “perplexed” the algorithm did not flag Mr Ashton as a problem gambler.

He said had that occurred there were opportunities to get assist for Mr Ashton who had had actually confessed his gaming issue to his better half in 2019 but later on hid the truth he had actually begun wagering once again.

Richard Clarke, the handling director of client relations for Flutter UKI – Betfair’s parent business – gave evidence to the hearing and was asked by the the family’s legal representatives if he felt the business ought to have done more.

Mr Clarke said: “We have looked very carefully at the actions we took and we are confident we satisfied the regulative standard at the time.

“As a company, obviously looking at the awful result here, I would like to have actually done more.”

He stated Betfair had introduced further safeguards given that 2021, including deposit limits from clients returning from self-exclusion periods and monetary vulnerability checks, but they came in before the company was made mindful of Mr Ashton’s death.

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

He said he would prepare an Avoidance of Future Deaths Report with recommendations based on the “complex and uncommon case”.

After the hearing, Annie Ashton said: “The coroner’s conclusion validates what I have actually constantly thought that gaming caused Luke’s death.

“It vindicates what I have actually argued the whole time that gaming is devastating, damages households and causes .”

She said she hoped the yohaig code inquest’s findings would urgently prompt gaming firms to better communicate with clients.

She said Betfair’s evaluation of her hubby as “low threat” was not fit for purpose.

Mrs Ashton described her spouse as a “brilliant pleased and bubbly individual” who made good friends quickly.

“As an other half and a daddy, Luke was nothing except supportive and proud,” she added.

“He was a real rock to all of us however in reality he masked his own discomfort to safeguard us from what he was going through.”

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

“Flutter UKI is committed to doing the yohaig code ideal thing and developing an environment for consumers to enjoy our items in a safe and sustainable method.

“Over the past 3 years we have made substantial modifications to our controls, consisting of compulsory deposit limits for consumers who return to our sites after a duration of self-exclusion.

“We hold ourselves to the absolute highest standards in the industry and we will, obviously, include extra knowings from this awful case into our systems and processes.”

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