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 gaming addict before he killed himself.

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, died in April 2021 after developing up huge 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 engage or step in when Mr Ashton's betting activity surged.

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

Missed opportunities

The inquest, at Leicester City center, heard before he died, Mr Ashton had been betting more than 100 times a day, consisting of early in the early morning and late during the night when his partner was asleep.

He placed 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 bettor 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 ought to have done more in what I find was a turning point in between late January and April 2021.

"Opportunities were missed out on 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 give proof to the inquest as Mr Cartwright sought to develop whether the yohaig code company's actions added to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's household said the company needs to have determined him as an issue bettor and taken "more and more powerful steps" to keep him from damage.

Betfair informed the inquest it used a computer algorithm to keep track of consumer wagering and that Mr Ashton was deemed "low danger".

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

Instead Mr Ashton was sent out 8 automated and generic "awareness" emails by the business.

Tragic result

Mr Cartwright said he was "perplexed" the algorithm did not flag Mr Ashton as a problem bettor.

He said had that took place there were chances to get help for Mr Ashton who had actually had admitted his betting problem to his wife in 2019 but later on hid the truth he had actually begun wagering again.

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

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

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

He stated Betfair had actually presented further safeguards considering that 2021, including deposit limitations from clients returning from self-exclusion periods and financial vulnerability checks, but they came in before the firm was made conscious of Mr Ashton's death.

Mr Cartwright came to 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 suggestions based upon the "complex and uncommon case".

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

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

She stated she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently trigger gambling companies to much better communicate with clients.

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

Mrs Ashton explained her other half as a "bright happy and bubbly person" who made good friends easily.

"As a spouse and a dad, Luke was nothing brief of encouraging and proud," she included.

"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, primary executive of Flutter UKI, stated: "We wish to reiterate our genuine condolences to Mrs Ashton and her household. We are really sorry for their loss.

"Flutter UKI is dedicated to doing the ideal thing and creating an environment for consumers to enjoy our products in a safe and sustainable method.

"Over the previous 3 years we have made substantial modifications to our controls, including compulsory deposit limits for consumers who go back to our sites after a period of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the absolute greatest requirements in the market and we will, obviously, integrate extra knowings from this promotion code awful case into our systems and procedures."

If you have been impacted by any of the issues in this story, you can go to the BBC Action Line for help.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, external, on Twitter, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk, external.

Leicester

Algorithm 'missed out on gambling addict's red flags'

16 June 2023

Betfair said gambler was 'low threat' before he passed away

15 June 2023

Wife blames betting relapse for other half's death

14 June 2023