The sister of a man who died by suicide after black market betting sites “deliberately lured him in” has called for the Gambling Commission to review existing laws.
Warning: This story contains descriptions some readers may find distressing, including references to self-harm and suicide.
Oliver Long, 36, was found dead in East Sussex on 23 February last year after a battle with gambling addiction, an inquest heard on Tuesday.
His sister, Chloe, said he had tried “so desperately to help (himself)” by self-excluding from online gambling sites, but later started using unlicensed sites from outside the UK.
Chloe said her brother had been “targeted by these illicit, illegal black market sites”, which were ultimately to blame for his death.
“Ollie’s experience was horrendous because he was trying his absolute best to try and help himself, he recognised that he was experiencing significant harm from gambling,” she said after the hearing.
“And he wanted to help himself by self-excluding, and unfortunately he was targeted by these illicit, illegal black market sites. And I’m just so concerned of the risk this poses to other people.”
She said her family was “disappointed” the coroner had not included gambling disorder in Mr Long’s medical cause of death, but vowed to continue to advocate for change in his memory.
Mr Long had been diagnosed with a “severe gambling addiction”, but senior coroner for East Sussex Laura Bradford recorded a short form conclusion of “suicide”.
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