A wealthy individual who spent close to £1.5 million on betting activities related to football is appealing a court decision after suing Betfair for permitting his gambling behavior. This legal case could potentially influence the responsibilities that online betting companies have towards their customers.
Lee Gibson, aged 47, argues that Betfair should have intervened earlier as they allegedly knew about his gambling addiction. Gibson, a property investor, disclosed that he placed over 30,000 bets with Betfair between 2009 and 2019. Seeking damages of £1 million, which corresponds to his losses over six years leading up to his claim in 2021, his initial lawsuit was dismissed by a High Court judge but is now being reviewed by three senior judges.
Despite leaving school at 16, Gibson amassed a fortune by purchasing and refurbishing properties in Leeds. He owned 16 residential properties at one point, primarily rented to students.
His legal representative, Yash Kulkarni KC, mentioned that Gibson’s betting mainly focused on “correct score” football markets, including obscure games, with bets reaching up to £20,000. Kulkarni argued that Betfair should have identified Gibson as a problem gambler, given the signs of chasing losses, borrowing money for gambling, and exceeding affordable gambling levels based on his income.
Initially finding gambling exhilarating, Gibson faced financial turmoil in March 2019 when his losses became unsustainable, leading to the suspension of his account. Despite being offered VIP privileges such as football and golf events, these benefits lessened over time. Gibson informed Betfair that his funds came from property rental income when asked to comply with anti-money laundering regulations.
During the previous court trial, Judge Nigel Bird ruled that Betfair could not have reasonably known about Gibson’s gambling issues. However, at the Court of Appeal, Kulkarni refuted this decision, asserting that Betfair should have recognized Gibson’s problematic gambling habits due to his high betting frequency and substantial losses.
Betfair, represented under TSE Malta LP, is contesting the appeal, supported by their belief that Judge Bird’s ruling was appropriate. The final judgement on this ongoing legal battle is pending, with three senior judges overseeing the case.