Luke Ashton: Betfair criticised by coroner over bettor's death
29 June 2023
ByDan Martin
BBC News
A coroner has found Betfair must have done more to assist a gambling addict before he eliminated himself.
Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, died in April 2021 after developing big debts betting online.
An inquest heard he staked larger amounts chasing his losses in the weeks before his death.
Coroner Ivan Cartwright stated he was concerned Betfair did not meaningfully connect or intervene when Mr Ashton's gambling activity surged.
He concluded gambling disorder was a cause of Mr Ashton's death.
Missed opportunities
The inquest, at Leicester City center, heard before he passed away, Mr Ashton had been betting more than 100 times a day, including early in the morning and late in the evening when his better 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 bettor although his activity was more extensive in the 10 weeks prior to his death.
"The operator did not step in or interact with Mr Ashton in any meaningful way.
"Betfair might have done more in the relevant period and should have done more in what I find was a crucial duration in between late January and April 2021.
"Opportunities were missed that could perhaps have altered the result for Luke."
Mr Ashton's body was discovered in a leased flat near Mexborough, South Yorkshire, after his wife reported him missing out on and his phone was tracked utilizing an app.
Betfair was called to bet9ja's welcome offer evidence to the inquest as Mr Cartwright sought to establish whether the company's actions contributed to Mr Ashton's death.
Lawyers for Mr Ashton's household said the business should have identified him as an issue bettor and taken "more and more powerful steps" to keep him from harm.
Betfair informed the inquest it used a computer algorithm to monitor client wagering which Mr Ashton was deemed "low threat".
The company said its algorithm found nothing in his wagering patterns that would trigger human intervention that may have limited his gaming.
Instead Mr Ashton was sent 8 automated and generic "awareness" e-mails by the company.
Tragic outcome
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 assist for Mr Ashton who had had admitted his gaming problem to his wife in 2019 but later concealed the fact he had begun wagering again.
Richard Clarke, the managing director of client relations for Flutter UKI - Betfair's parent company - 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 positive we met the regulatory standard at the time.
"As a company, clearly 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 customers returning from self-exclusion durations and financial vulnerability checks, but they was available in before the company was warned of Mr Ashton's death.
Mr Cartwright pertained to a narrative conclusion that Luke passed away as a result of his own actions.
He stated 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 coroner's conclusion validates what I have constantly believed that gambling triggered Luke's death.
"It vindicates what I have argued the whole time that gambling is harmful, damages households and causes suicide."
She stated she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently prompt gaming firms to better interact with clients.
She said Betfair's assessment of her hubby as "low risk" was not fit for purpose.
Mrs Ashton described her hubby as a "bright pleased and bubbly person" who made buddies easily.
"As a husband and a dad, Luke was absolutely nothing except supportive and happy," she included.
"He was a genuine rock to all of us but in reality he masked his own discomfort to protect us from what he was going through."
Ian Brown, president of Flutter UKI, stated: "We wish to reiterate our genuine acknowledgements to Mrs Ashton and her family. We are truly sorry for their loss.
"Flutter UKI is committed to doing the ideal thing and producing an environment for customers to enjoy our products in a safe and sustainable method.
"Over the past 3 years we have made significant modifications to our controls, consisting of limitations for consumers who return to our websites after a duration of self-exclusion.
"We hold ourselves to the absolute highest requirements in the market and we will, of course, incorporate extra learnings from this promotion code tragic case into our systems and processes."
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