UK court dismisses claim against gambling firm by family of man who died by suicide

UK Court Rules Betfair Not Liable in Gambling-Linked Suicide Lawsuit

High Court Dismisses Family’s Negligence Claim Against Betfair

Background of the Case

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - London's High Court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought against Betfair by the family of a man who took his own life, rejecting their argument that the gambling company owed him a duty of care in a closely watched case for the industry.

The family of Luke Ashton, 40, who died by suicide in April 2021, alleged Betfair encouraged him ​to gamble and that this worsened a gambling disorder, causing or materially contributing ​to his death. Betfair denied the claims.

The Court’s Ruling

Judge’s Decision

Judge Jonathan Swift dismissed the case, ruling the duty of care proposed by the family did not arise.

"There is no sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that Mr Ashton did suffer from gambling disorder and that being so, no possible basis on which the requirement for foreseeability could be met," the ruling said.

Legal Arguments Presented

Plaintiff’s Allegations

The family sued TSE Malta, the holding company for ⁠Flutter which owns the Betfair, Paddy Power and Sportsbet brands, alleging negligence by the betting firm.

At a hearing in June, lawyers for Ashton's widow, Annie Ashton, argued that Betfair created or perpetuated the risk ​of harm through actions "including the design and operation of an addictive gambling product and the provision of inducements and free bets".

Details of Gambling Activity

The court heard that Ashton had gambled thousands of pounds and lost substantial sums. In messages left for his wife and children before his death, he said his "mental health (was) all over the place" and that "gambling was just the straw that broke the camel's back".

Betfair’s Defense

Betfair argued that previous English court rulings had found gambling operators owed no "general duty ​to protect problem gamblers from the consequences of their actions".

"While we welcome the court's ruling, this is a tragic case and we once again offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Ashton and her family," a Flutter UKI spokesperson said.

Industry Impact and Regulatory Context

Britain's gambling industry has faced growing calls for higher taxes and tighter regulation ​to tackle addiction, as betting ​has become more widespread ⁠and easier to access via smartphones.

Finance minister John Healey last month announced an increase in Machine Games Duty, ​a tax on the net takings ⁠from some slot machines, in his annual budget.

Gambling companies warned ahead of the budget that higher taxes could lead to job losses in a sector already dealing with tax increases announced last year.

(Reporting by Michael Holden. Editing by Mark Potter)