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

29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

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

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, passed away in April 2021 after building up substantial financial obligations wagering online.

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

Coroner Ivan Cartwright said he was worried Betfair did not meaningfully connect or intervene when Mr Ashton's gaming activity surged.

He concluded gambling 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 wagering more than 100 times a day, consisting of early in the morning and late at night when his better 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 examined 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 significant way.

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

"Opportunities were missed that might possibly have actually altered the result for Luke."

Mr Ashton's body was found in a rented flat near Mexborough, South Yorkshire, after his partner reported him missing out on and his phone was tracked using an app.

Betfair was called to provide evidence to the inquest as Mr Cartwright sought to establish whether the firm's actions added to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's family said the business needs to have identified him as a problem gambler and taken "more and more powerful steps" to keep him from damage.

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

The business said its algorithm found absolutely nothing in his betting patterns that would activate human intervention that may have limited his betting.

Instead Mr Ashton was sent eight automated and generic "awareness" emails by the company.

Tragic outcome

Mr Cartwright stated he was "perplexed" the yohaig code algorithm did not flag Mr Ashton as a problem gambler.

He stated had that took place there were opportunities to get assist for Mr Ashton who had actually had confessed his gaming issue to his partner in 2019 but later concealed the truth he had started betting again.

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

Mr Clarke said: "We have looked really thoroughly at the actions we took and we are positive we satisfied the regulatory standard at the time.

"As a company, certainly looking at the terrible outcome here, I would love to have done more."

He said Betfair had presented further safeguards since 2021, consisting of deposit limitations from consumers returning from self-exclusion durations and financial vulnerability checks, but they was available in before the firm was warned of Mr Ashton's death.

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

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

After the hearing, Annie Ashton stated: "The coroner's conclusion validates what I have actually always believed that gaming triggered Luke's death.

"It vindicates what I have actually argued all along that gaming is harmful, damages families and causes suicide."

She stated she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently trigger gambling companies to better interact with customers.

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

Mrs Ashton described her other half as a "brilliant pleased and bubbly individual" who made pals easily.

"As a partner and a father, Luke was absolutely nothing except helpful and happy," she added.

"He was a genuine rock to us all but in reality he masked his own pain to protect us from what he was going through."

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

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

"Over the previous 3 years we have made substantial changes to our controls, including necessary deposit limits for clients who return to our sites after a period of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the absolute highest standards in the market and we will, obviously, incorporate additional learnings from this promotion code awful case into our systems and procedures."

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