Gambling Disorder contributed to the death of Ellen Mulvey, inquest concludes

Recording a conclusion that Ellen died by suicide, HM Area Coroner Elizabeth Wheeler found that Ellen met the criteria for Gambling Disorder and that gambling was a stressor which contributed to her death in November 2025. 

The inquest into Ellen’s death was held at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington on 17 April 2026 and the coroner delivered her Conclusion on 27 April 2026. 

The inquest heard evidence from Ellen’s partner and sister that she had a successful career in recruitment in the financial services sector. However, she had longstanding problems with gambling, which the family only learned the true extent of after Ellen had died.  

The family told the court that they believed that Ellen had an addiction to gambling and that this was the root cause of the deterioration in Ellen’s mental health prior to her death. They said that they believe that Ellen first started gambling due to her interest in football and gambled for many years with licensed operators, before self-excluding via GAMSTOP (which blocks access to gambling with online operators licensed in Great Britain) in an attempt to escape her addiction.  

However, having registered with GAMSTOP, Ellen was able to continue gambling with unlicensed online platforms, who are known to target those who have self-excluded via GAMSTOP, and did so until shortly before her death, all but exhausting the funds available to her. Between 2018 and 2025, Ellen’s bank statements show that her gambling-related transactions across licensed and unlicensed operators ran into the hundreds of thousands of pounds. 

The inquest also heard expert evidence from Baroness Clare Gerada - a prominent GP and addictions expert who established the NHS Primary Care Gambling Service - that Ellen had a severe and longstanding Gambling Disorder and that this caused her death. 

Ellen’s GP gave evidence at the inquest that the practice had been unaware of Ellen’s problems with gambling and had not asked screening questions, similar to those asked about alcohol and smoking, in relation to gambling. 

Ellen died on 7 November 2025 in Macclesfield District General Hospital. 

Evidence from Ellen’s partner and her sister described how the true extent of her gambling addiction was largely hidden from those closest to her, often masked by other explanations for her distress and financial difficulties. In the months before her death, Ellen experienced increasing anxiety, hidden financial pressure and emotional turmoil.  Baroness Gerada’s evidence was that Ellen’s severe Gambling Disorder was the underlying cause of her mental health deterioration and the stressors she faced. 

Ellen’s family described her as a deeply loved partner, stepmother, sister, daughter and friend, known for her kindness, empathy and unwavering support for others. They said that she had moved to London at a young age and built a life and career she was proud of, while remaining fiercely devoted to her family. 

The inquest is the sixth since 2022 to record the contribution of gambling to a death, as concerns continue to grow among bereaved families and campaigners about the risks posed by gambling, including by products which are known to be highly addictive and by the ongoing ability of unlicensed online gambling operators to target individuals who have taken the available steps to self-exclude from gambling in order to protect themselves from harm. 

Ellen’s partner, Deanne Tomkins, and sister, Katie Styring, are represented by Dan Webster, human rights solicitor at Leigh Day, with Helena Hart-Watson. Counsel is Jesse Nicholls of Matrix Chambers. 

The family are being supported by the charity Gambling with Lives. 

Following the conclusion, Ellen’s partner, Deanne Tomkins, said:

“Ellen had the biggest heart. She was kind, deeply empathetic, and always put others before herself. I truly believe she would still be here today if it wasn’t for the harm caused by gambling. 

“She was a loving partner and an incredible stepmum to my four-year-old son. So patient, so playful, and just full of love. The memories she created with us will stay forever. But the reality is, she should still be here. She’s been taken from a young family who needed her, and who now have to grow up without her. 

“Gambling does not define who Ellen was. It was something that took hold of her, because that is what it is designed to do. It made her feel like she had failed. It made her believe we were better off without her - which could not be further from the truth. That is the devastating reality of the harm caused by gambling and the psychological impact of gambling harm.  

“No one is immune to addiction, especially to these dangerous highly addictive products, the individual is not to blame, it can affect anyone. This inquest has shown just how devastating gambling harm can be, and how deeply it affects a person’s mental health and the lives left behind. 

“We feel so much more can be done to reduce the harm caused by gambling in the UK. We feel there needs to be a proper public health approach that better informs and protects everyone. We also want to see those experiencing harm being better supported, in a way that reduces stigma and shame, and promotes access to specialist gambling support. There are now professional standards in place for healthcare professionals and these need to be properly implemented.   

“We are also deeply concerned about unregulated online gambling sites targeting those who have taken the steps to self-exclude, like Ellen.  That should not be possible, and this is an issue that needs to be a priority for those in positions to act.  

“How many more lives have to be lost before something changes?” 

Ellen’s sister, Katie Styring, said: 

“Ellen was the kindest, most compassionate person we knew. She gave everything to the people she loved and was always the one lifting others up, no matter what she was facing herself. She was our protector, our biggest supporter, and the heart of our family. 

“Due to the stigma and shame put on those experiencing gambling harm, that they are somehow to blame, Ellen felt unable to tell her family about the extent of her gambling or how deeply it was affecting her. For Ellen, working in a senior director role in financial services would only have added to this. We would like Ellen’s story to shine a light on how dangerous and devesting gambling can be, to help break down the shame and stigma and prevent others losing their lives. 

“Hearing the evidence at the inquest has been devastating, but it has also helped us to understand the extent of what Ellen was facing. Ellen developed a Gambling Disorder not because of any flaw in her character but because gambling products are designed to be addicted and to extract as much profit as possible, regardless of the harm.  

“We hope that Ellen’s story will raise awareness of Gambling Disorder and the dangers of online gambling and that action should be taken to prevent other families going through the same heartbreak we are.” 

Leigh Day solicitor Dan Webster said: 

“This is a deeply tragic case which highlights the devastating harm that gambling can cause, even to individuals like Ellen who otherwise live happy, healthy and successful lives and are able to hide their gambling problems from loved ones. The coroner’s Conclusion adds to the growing recognition of gambling as a factor which frequently contributes to self-inflicted deaths and illustrates the urgent need for action at a regulatory level to protect the public from gambling harm. 

“This is the second inquest in the space of four months at which concerns have been raised about the ease of access to unlicensed gambling platforms for individuals who have self-excluded via GAMSTOP and the direct targeting of these individuals by platforms marketing themselves as ‘not on GAMSTOP’. Ellen’s family, and others who we represent, are highly concerned that the steps being taken by the Gambling Commission are having no meaningful effect in protecting the public from these platforms. It is vital that urgent action is taken by the Government and the Gambling Commission to tackle the individuals and entities which operate these platforms and to prevent the ongoing harm which they cause.”  

Liz Ritchie MBE, who lost her son Jack to gambling suicide in 2017 and co-founded Gambling with Lives, said:  

“Ellen’s family have shown great courage and played a vital role in highlighting the serious risks associated with addictive gambling products and the link between gambling and suicide. 

“The coroner’s conclusion that Gambling Disorder contributed to Ellen’s death is an important step forward. Recording gambling disorder as part of the medical cause of death reflects the growing understanding and recognition of gambling’s impact and contribution to suicides.”