UK Gambling Commission Under Fire over Failure to Probe Suicide

Recently, we reported that the family of a deceased man who suffered from gambling addiction filed a lawsuit against Flutter Entertainment, the recognizable gaming and entertainment giant. This was the case for the family of Luke Ashton, who took his own life due to a crippling gambling addiction.

Relative of a Deceased Gambler Deems UKGC Unfit for Its Purpose

Relatives of the man who passed away in April 2021, including his widow, Annie Ashton, filed a lawsuit with the UK High Court against the gaming company. Now, a new report suggests that the widow criticized the gambling regulator in the UK, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), arguing that the regulatory body isn’t fit for its purpose.

In an interview for The Guardian, Annie Ashton admitted to plans to take legal action against the Commission. Moreover, she condemned the regulator for not taking action against Flutter-owned Betfair, the gambling operator her husband used for years before his passing. Annie Ashton explained: “I just think they’re just unfit for purpose. They should not be the regulatory body. They’re too tied up with the industry. I absolutely dread to think what someone would have to go through for it to be investigated.”

If the Regulator Doesn’t Act, More People May Die Due to Gambling Addiction

The woman’s criticism follows a letter sent by the gambling regulator earlier this month. At the time, the regulatory watchdog admitted that it wouldn’t be taking any further action in the case involving the death of Luke Ashton. The letter was sent despite a coroner’s inquest that called Betfair an “interested person.” This historic decision for the country was the first time a gambling operator was recognized for a potential connection to the death of a person.

Despite the inquest, the Commission refused to take further action. A representative of the gambling regulator offered condolences to Luke Ashton’s family and friends. The same spokesperson explained that at the time the man gambled with Betfair the operator was in “special measures,” due to breaches related to anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures.

The Commission’s representative added that the special measures saw the gambling firm give up £635,000 ($798,000), a sum that was transferred to gambling charities in the country. “Taking into account the action we have already taken and that new regulatory requirements are now in place, it was considered that no further action would be taken against the licensee in respect of this matter,” the spokesperson explained.

But Annie Ashton isn’t convinced with the position of the gambling regulator. “More people will die because they’re not actually looking at the people that it’s destroying,” the widow admitted. She argued that in light of the death of her husband, the Commission had to strip the license off Betfair and investigate the operator. The woman argued that in light of the inquest, “there should have been some serious consequences.”

In light of Luke Ashton’s suicide and the subsequent inquest, Betfair previously admitted that its protection systems failed. Still, in the words of the man’s widow, he was considered a “low-risk gambler,” despite his extensive gambling activities that sometimes involved more than 100 bets a day.