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

29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

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

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

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

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

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

Missed chances

The inquest, at Leicester Town Hall, heard before he died, Mr Ashton had actually been betting more than 100 times a day, including early in the morning and late at night when his partner 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 gambler although his activity was more intensive in the 10 weeks prior to his death.

"The operator did not intervene or interact with Mr Ashton in any meaningful way.

"Betfair might have done more in the relevant period and must have done more in what I find was a vital duration in between late January and April 2021.

"Opportunities were missed that could possibly have actually altered the outcome for Luke."

Mr Ashton's body was discovered in a leased flat near Mexborough, South Yorkshire, after his spouse 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 firm's actions added to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's family stated the business should have determined him as a problem bettor and taken "more and stronger steps" to keep him from damage.

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

The company stated its algorithm found absolutely nothing in his wagering patterns that would activate human intervention that may have restricted his gaming.

Instead Mr Ashton was sent out 8 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 took place there were opportunities to get help for Mr Ashton who had actually had actually confessed his gambling issue to his wife in 2019 but later on concealed the truth he had actually begun betting once again.

Richard Clarke, the handling director of customer relations for Flutter UKI - Betfair's parent business - provided proof to the hearing and was asked by the the household's legal representatives if he felt the company ought to have done more.

Mr Clarke said: "We have looked really carefully at the actions we took and we are positive we met the regulatory requirement at the time.

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

He stated Betfair had presented even more safeguards because 2021, consisting of deposit limits from consumers returning from self-exclusion periods and monetary vulnerability checks, however they can be found in before the company was made aware of Mr Ashton's death.

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

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

After the hearing, Annie Ashton stated: "the yohaig code coroner's conclusion verifies what I have actually constantly believed that gambling caused Luke's death.

"It vindicates what I have actually argued all along that gambling is damaging, destroys households and causes suicide."

She stated she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently prompt gaming firms to better connect with clients.

She said Betfair's evaluation of her hubby as "low threat" was not fit for function.

Mrs Ashton explained her husband as a "bright happy and bubbly individual" who made pals easily.

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

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

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

"Flutter UKI is committed to doing the best thing and producing an environment for clients to enjoy our products in a safe and sustainable way.

"Over the past 3 years we have actually made considerable changes to our controls, consisting of obligatory deposit limitations for customers who return to our sites after a period of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the outright greatest standards in the market and we will, naturally, include extra knowings from this tragic case into our systems and processes."

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