The widow of a gambling addict who took his own life after accumulating £18,000 in debt has launched a legal claim against Betfair, in a case that could set a precedent for the UK gambling industry. Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, died in April 2021 after placing thousands of bets with the company, which sent him promotional 'free' bets.
Lawyers for the Ashton family allege that Betfair was negligent for failing to intervene as his losses mounted, arguing the company breached its duty of care. Success would establish for the first time that a betting operator owed a duty of care to customers showing signs of problem gambling.
In a defence submitted to the High Court, Betfair, part of the £13bn Flutter group, denied owing Ashton any duty of care. It said he had not informed the company of his gambling disorder and that his financial losses were caused by his 'own contributory negligence' and external mental health factors.
Ashton signed up for temporary exclusions from gambling with Betfair three times, but returned to betting each time they ended, losing £21,777 over three years. In March 2021, after his gambling intensified while furloughed during the pandemic, he placed more than 1,000 bets and lost £5,500. The volume of 'free' bets he received also increased during this period.
The Ashtons are seeking damages of £846,478, including the money Betfair made from Luke and his lost future earnings. A 2023 coroner criticised Betfair for its part in Ashton's death, noting that 'more efforts to intervene or interact should have been made'.
If successful, the case could pave the way for millions of pounds in new claims against the UK gambling industry, which earned over £12bn from British customers last year. An estimated 1.4 million adults in Britain have a gambling problem, according to a study for the Gambling Commission.
