A coroner has warned of the lethal dangers posed by unlicensed overseas gambling websites after a football fan, who felt he was 'better off dead', died by suicide.
A Life Consumed by Betting
Oliver Long, a 36-year-old Liverpool FC fan from Buckinghamshire, was found dead in East Sussex on 23 February 2024. He had sent farewell messages to his family days earlier. An inquest at East Sussex Coroner’s Court heard he had been diagnosed with a severe gambling addiction.
In a pen portrait, his sister Chloe described him as intelligent and kind, but said gambling 'took hold' and 'consumed' him. She told the court the products he used were 'highly addictive, predatory systems designed to exploit.'
'They stole from Ollie – not only his money, but his peace, his future, and ultimately, his life,' she said. The family stated they 'firmly' believe gambling, which made him believe he was better off dead, was to blame for his death.
The Descent into Unlicensed Sites
The court heard Mr Long's gambling journey began with a £15,000 win from an initial sign-up offer. After six months of success, his situation deteriorated drastically. He reportedly self-excluded from UK sites in 2022 before turning to unlicensed overseas operators in 2023, which actively target individuals trying to avoid UK regulations.
His financial decline was rapid and severe. Bank statements showed he lost £20,000 from his savings in April 2023 alone. His addiction cost him his house, his job, and led to the breakdown of his long-term relationship.
Senior Coroner Laura Bradford recorded a conclusion of suicide. She highlighted a critical gap in public awareness, noting that people may not realise they lose regulatory protections when using unlicensed providers.
Systemic Failures and Future Action
Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Gambling Commission, told the inquest these offshore sites 'deliberately seek to target people who are already experiencing harm.' He revealed some are run by 'criminal networks' linked to terrorism and organised crime.
While the Commission has had over 81,000 URLs removed from search engines, Miller expressed disappointment that tech giant Meta is not being more proactive in taking down such content. However, new legislation expected next year will grant the Commission greater powers to compel internet providers to act against illegal sites.
Coroner Bradford has ordered a Prevention of Future Deaths report to be sent to the Department of Health, Department for Education, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. She acknowledged 'significant work' has been done but insisted 'more can be done' to highlight the risks of unlicensed gambling.
The inquest heard Mr Long also struggled with depression and anxiety—common issues linked to gambling harm—and used cannabis to 'numb' his pain. He died from multiple injuries after a fall from height, having spent a final weekend with his family before travelling to an Airbnb for a new job he never started.
