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

29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

A coroner has discovered Betfair must have done more to help a betting addict before he killed himself.

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

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

Coroner Ivan Cartwright said he was concerned Betfair did not meaningfully interact 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 been wagering more than 100 times a day, consisting of early in the morning and late at night when his other half was asleep.

He put 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 yohaig code operator did not intervene or interact with Mr Ashton in any meaningful way.

"Betfair might have done more in the appropriate period and ought to have done more in what I discover was an important duration between late January and April 2021.

"Opportunities were missed that could perhaps have actually altered the result for Luke."

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

Betfair was contacted us to bet9ja's welcome offer evidence to the inquest as Mr Cartwright looked for to establish whether the company's actions contributed to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's family said the yohaig code business ought to have recognized him as a problem gambler and taken "more and more powerful steps" to keep him from harm.

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

The business stated its algorithm found nothing in his betting patterns that would activate human intervention that may have restricted his betting.

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

Tragic outcome

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

He stated had that occurred there were opportunities to get assist for Mr Ashton who had had actually admitted his gaming issue to his spouse in 2019 but later concealed the fact he had begun betting once again.

Richard Clarke, the handling director of client relations for Flutter UKI - Betfair's moms and dad company - offered proof to the hearing and was asked by the the household's attorneys if he felt the company should have done more.

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

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

He stated Betfair had introduced even more safeguards given that 2021, consisting of deposit limits from consumers returning from self-exclusion periods and financial vulnerability checks, but they can be found in before the firm was warned of Mr Ashton's death.

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

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

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

"It vindicates what I have argued all along that gaming is damaging, ruins families and triggers suicide."

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

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

Mrs Ashton described her partner as a "bright delighted and bubbly individual" who made pals quickly.

"As a hubby and a father, Luke was nothing except and happy," she added.

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

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

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

"Over the previous 3 years we have actually made substantial changes to our controls, including necessary deposit limits for customers who go back to our sites after a duration of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the absolute highest standards in the market and we will, obviously, include additional knowings from this tragic case into our systems and processes."

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