Man who blew 1.5m gambling on football sues Betfair in landmark fight

"Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story."

"A multimillionaire "problem gambler" who blew nearly 1.5m on football wagers is suing Betfair for his money back in a landmark case, claiming it was under a duty to protect him from himself. Buy-to-let property tycoon Lee Gibson told a court he placed more than 30,000 individual wagers through betting exchange Betfair during a "prolific" gambling period between 2009 and 2019. Although he said he initially found it "enthralling and exciting," his losses became "unsustainable" and in March 2019, his account was suspended for good."

"Mr Gibson, 47, of Leeds, went on to sue Betfair, the world's largest betting exchange, alleging that it should have known he was a "problem gambler" and was under a duty to stop him sooner. The case was rejected by a High Court judge last year, but his bid for about 1 million damages has now gone on to be heard this week by three top judges at the Court of Appeal."

A multimillionaire property tycoon spent nearly 1.5m on football wagers and identifies as a "problem gambler." He placed more than 30,000 individual wagers on Betfair between 2009 and 2019 and said betting was initially enthralling but losses became unsustainable. His Betfair account was suspended permanently in March 2019. He sued Betfair alleging the exchange had a duty to recognise his problem gambling and to intervene sooner, seeking about 1 million in damages. A High Court judge rejected the claim last year, and the appeal is now before three Court of Appeal judges. Lawyers warn the outcome could clarify online betting companies' duties and have major implications for the industry. The Independent relies on reader donations to fund on-the-ground reporting and avoids paywalls to keep journalism accessible.

Read at www.independent.co.uk