Coroner criticises 'woefully inadequate' support for gambling addict

A coroner has said that warnings, treatment and information about the dangers of gambling were "woefully inadequate" before a young English teacher took his own life in 2017.

Sheffield coroner David Urpeth said that 24-year-old Jack Ritchie's suicide in Hanoi, Vietnam was not caused by gambling but that it was "abundantly clear…that gambling contributed to his death".

Ritchie's parents Liz and Charles, who subsequently set up the Gambling With Lives charity, believed the inquest was the first time that Article 2 of the Human Rights Act had been engaged in an inquest relating to gambling, meaning a coroner must consider the wider circumstances of a death and can make critical findings including against the state or its agents.

A two-week long inquest heard that Ritchie developed a gambling disorder having started gambling on FOBTs when he was 17.

Urpeth said in a narrative conclusion: "Despite the system of regulation in force at the time of his death, Jack was able to continue to gamble when he was obviously addicted to gambling.

"The evidence was that in the years leading up to Jack's death there were warnings about the dangers of gambling, information about the dangers of gambling and treatment available to those with a gambling addiction.

"However, such warnings, information and treatment were woefully inadequate and failed to meet Jack's needs."

The coroner said he would be writing to a number of government departments with comments about the prevention of further deaths.

He said there had been improvements since Ritchie's death but that there were still "significant gaps" around information and treatment of gambling problems.

Urpeth added: "One notable gap was the fact that evidence suggested GPs currently have insufficient training and knowledge to deal effectively with gambling problems."

Ritchie's parents said in a statement their son had died "wrongly believing he was the problem" and criticised a "predatory industry and a collusive government".

"The coroner has ruled that woefully inadequate state failings have led to Jack's death," they said.

The Gambling Commission said it had accelerated its drive to make gambling safer since Ritchie died in 2017.

A spokesperson said: "Jack's death was a tragedy and we have met and spoken with Jack's parents on several occasions to understand and agree how we can learn from their experience to inform the way we work.

"These conversations, along with those of others who have experienced harm, strengthens our commitment to protect consumers and make Britain's gambling market fairer and safer."