Kyle Hudson, 22, from Werribee, Melbourne, gambled nearly £895,000 over four years before taking his own life in 2021. A coroner is examining whether betting companies could have done more to prevent his death.
Hudson opened a Sportsbet account on his 18th birthday in May 2017. Over the next four years, he deposited £406,725 into accounts with Sportsbet, Bet365, Ladbrokes, Neds and Bookmaker, and withdrew £358,779. His net loss was £47,946, funded by employment income, Centrelink, loans from friends, crypto trading and bonus bets.
His partner, Ashley Baker, said Hudson had expressed suicidal thoughts after losing money soon after turning 18. In December 2020, he could not withdraw funds to pay for a puppy they had bought together, as his bank balance fell from £22,815 to £1.61 in nine days.
Sportsbet flagged Hudson’s betting in July 2017 due to his age (under 22) and bets over £3,000 in a week. Despite this, no effective intervention occurred. Coroner Paul Lawrie is investigating whether the companies accurately assessed Hudson’s risk of harm and what measures could prevent similar tragedies.
Hudson’s brother Ryan told the inquest the family was unaware of the extent of his gambling. “His death was a huge shock that no one saw coming,” he said. Hudson had been a gifted athlete, playing basketball for Melbourne Tigers and Australian rules football for Werribee.
