A 36-year-old football fan took his own life after his gambling addiction led him to use illegal offshore betting websites that deliberately target vulnerable individuals, a coroner's court has heard.
A passion turned into a deadly addiction
Ollie Long from Wendover in Buckinghamshire died in February 2024 after an eight-year struggle with gambling that began with his love for football. The inquest at East Sussex Coroner's Court in Lewes was told that Mr Long, described by his family as an "endlessly kind" Liverpool FC supporter, initially won £15,000 through a sign-up offer.
His sister, Chloe Long, read statements to the court explaining that the gambling websites he later used were "highly addictive, predatory systems designed to exploit". She said notes left by her brother revealed gambling had "altered his perception of himself … and had made him believe that he was better off dead".
The lure of 'Not on GamStop' and criminal networks
The court heard that after recognising his problem, Mr Long sought treatment and signed up for the UK's self-exclusion scheme, GamStop, which blocks access to licensed operators for periods between six months and five years. However, he subsequently found and used illegal offshore sites that market themselves online as "Not on GamStop".
Tim Miller, executive director of the Gambling Commission, told the inquest that some of these unlicensed platforms are run by "sophisticated international criminal networks" that deliberately target people already experiencing harm from gambling. He criticised Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, for failing to proactively remove adverts for these sites.
Bank statements showed that in his final months, Mr Long placed more than 50 bets with what appear to be illicit online casinos via payment providers in Stockholm and Lagos.
Coroner's findings and calls for action
Senior coroner for East Sussex, Laura Bradford, acknowledged that gambling and Mr Long's history of anxiety, depression and cannabis use were relevant factors. However, she did not list gambling as a direct cause of death, instead concluding he died by suicide from multiple injuries.
In a prevention of future deaths report, Ms Bradford stated that more should be done to publicise the risks of illegal gambling sites, as people may not realise they are using unlicensed operators. She said she would send her report to relevant government departments.
The family submitted a psychiatric report indicating his cannabis use was secondary to his gambling disorder. They stated: "We firmly believe that his death was caused by his addiction to gambling, which he felt powerless to escape."
The Guardian has previously reported that many popular "Not on GamStop" sites appear to be operated by a company called Santeda International, which holds a licence in Curaçao. A spokesperson for Santeda has denied targeting self-excluded gamblers.
In response to the growing issue, Chancellor Rachel Reeves allocated an extra £26m over three years to the Gambling Commission in the November budget to tackle the illegal market. The commission is also expected to receive new powers to take down websites.
