An inquest has revealed that Kyle Hudson, a 22-year-old Melbourne man, gambled a staggering £895,733 through online betting platforms between his 18th birthday and the day he took his own life in July 2021. The Victorian coroner, Paul Lawrie, is investigating the circumstances surrounding Hudson's death, focusing on whether betting companies adequately assessed the risk of gambling-related harm.
Details of the Inquest
Counsel assisting the coroner, Georgina Coghlan KC, told the court that the inquest would examine Hudson's personal and financial history, as well as his online gambling activities with Sportsbet, Entain, and bet365. Hudson's total online gambling turnover amounted to £895,733, with an overall net loss exceeding £47,000.
Testimony from Girlfriend
Ashley Baker, Hudson's girlfriend of seven years, described him as "a genuine good bloke" with a "quiet nature" who never swore or raised his voice. However, she noted that gambling was the primary source of conflict in their relationship. Baker testified that Hudson opened a Sportsbet account on his 18th birthday in 2017. She first became aware of his gambling struggles during a holiday to Phillip Island, where he was "unusually quiet" after losing £2,000 gifted by his mother.
"I queried him on what was wrong, and he told me he lost all his money and that he wanted to die. It was a really unusual thing for him to say," Baker recounted. She believed this represented his first significant loss, marking a turning point in his habit.
Attempts to Control Gambling
Hudson made multiple attempts to curb his gambling, including setting limits and taking breaks. In December 2020, after losing £20,000—all his savings—he gave Baker control of most of his money and the password to his Sportsbet account. Despite these efforts, the cycle of gambling continued. In the days before his death, Hudson began asking Baker for money, speaking in a manner she found "out of character." She eventually sent him about £5,500 and ended their relationship. Later, she discovered evidence that he had bet thousands of pounds in his final 24 hours, depleting his savings.
Betting Behaviour and Alerts
Court documents revealed that Hudson bet an average of 4.6 times per day with Sportsbet, triggering behavioural alerts every six weeks on average. In his first six months, he placed 999 bets with an average stake of £107. Sarah Rizzo, Sportsbet's director of customer operations, confirmed that Hudson's activity generated 37 behavioural alerts, most due to his age (22 or under) and weekly bets exceeding £3,000.
Sportsbet responded by sending "safer gambling" emails, which Coghlan described as generic and lacking specific information about problematic deposits. Hudson never reached the company's highest risk threshold. His account was suspended five times but reactivated after he assured safer gambling specialists that he was betting within his limits.
Company Response
Coroner Lawrie questioned whether Hudson was viewed as a "reasonably sophisticated gambler" who appeared consistent and in control. Rizzo agreed but acknowledged that, in hindsight, his gambling may have escalated beyond his control. She noted that procedures have since changed, with similar behaviour now triggering 70 alerts and potentially resulting in deposit blocks and mandatory limits.
Representatives from Entain Group and Hillside (owner of bet365) are scheduled to testify later this week. The inquest continues.
In Australia, crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Support for problem gambling is available via the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic on 020 7381 7722 or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or contact the National Council on Problem Gambling on 1-800-MY-RESET.
