Inquest into the death of Oliver Long finds that a gambling disorder contributed to his death

Oliver, known as Ollie, was found deceased in East Sussex on 23 February 2024. In notes left to his family, he said that he could no longer cope with the impact of his gambling addiction on his mental health, which included overwhelming feelings of guilt, shame and hopelessness. Ollie was a passionate football fan, and his family believe that passion was systematically exploited by the gambling industry through pervasive advertising and predatory tactics designed to foster addiction. 

Concluding the inquest at Lewes Coroner’s Court on 13 January 2026, the Senior Coroner for East Sussex, Laura Bradford found that Ollie died by suicide and that his death was contributed to by gambling disorder. The inquest heard how, in the months leading up to Ollie’s death, he had gambled on illegal, unlicensed gambling sites after struggling for years with what he described as a ‘devastating’ gambling addiction.  

Ollie, originally from Wendover in Buckinghamshire, began gambling in around 2016, when he started betting on football and had an early big win, which research shows is often connected with subsequent gambling addiction. Ollie reached out for help and was seen by a voluntary sector charity in 2018.   

His family described how Ollie tried valiantly to beat his addiction. In early 2022, he self-excluded from online gambling via Gamban, a platform which blocks access to online gambling providers. His family believe that he also self-excluded via GAMSTOP, another self-exclusion scheme which blocks access to all licensed online gambling operators in Great Britain. During this time, Ollie volunteered as a peer supporter for others affected by gambling harms, motivated by a desire to help prevent others from experiencing the same suffering. 

However, in April 2023 he began gambling again using unlicensed providers which are illegal in Great Britain, and which were not blocked by Ollie’s self-exclusions. Many of these providers deliberately target people, like Ollie, who have self-excluded from licensed gambling sites, by using phrases such as “not on GAMSTOP” to attract traffic via internet searches. Ollie’s bank statements show that his gambling activity on these sites became intensive and continued until shortly before his death. 

The inquest heard expert evidence from Professor Dame Clare Gerada that Ollie had a severe gambling disorder and that this caused his death. 

The inquest also heard evidence from the Gambling Commission about what action is being taken to address the risks posed by illegal gambling platforms. The coroner expressed concern about these ongoing risks and indicated that she will issue a Prevention of Future Deaths Report addressed to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Health and Social Care, the Department for Education and the Gambling Commission.  

Ollie’s family are represented by partner Merry Varney and solicitor Dan Webster with paralegal Helena Hart-Watson at law firm Leigh Day and counsel Jesse Nicholls of Matrix Chambers. They have also been supported since Ollie's death by the charity Gambling with Lives. 

Following the conclusion, Ollie’s sister Chloe Long spoke on behalf of the family: 

“The conclusion of Ollie’s inquest confirms that gambling with illegal operators caused his death.

“Ollie was kind, thoughtful and compassionate: a loving son, brother and uncle with a life full of endless possibilities. He was not reckless or weak. He was intelligent, brave and loving. He was loved by so many. But the gambling industry deliberately lured him in and taught him to hate himself. He was left confused, riddled with guilt and shame, convinced he was immoral and a failure because he could not “stop when the fun stopped.” That slogan captures the cruel lie at the heart of the industry’s narrative. Ollie’s death was not about willpower. It was about exposure to products intentionally designed, based on neuroscientific evidence, to alter the brain and exploit human psychology. Gambling drove Ollie to such unbearable despair that he could not break free of the gambling predators, and he felt he had no option but to take his own life. 

“The ripple effect of Ollie’s death has been overwhelming. The shock and sadness felt by so many reflects the extraordinary person he was. Our hearts are utterly broken. The devastation this has caused our family is profound, and the pain of losing Ollie is something we will carry forever. 

“Ollie died as a result of a gambling disorder. His love of football was exploited by an industry that uses relentless advertising and predatory tactics to normalise gambling while concealing its harms. Gambling addiction thrives on secrecy and shame. People assume gambling deaths are about debt, but the truth is more insidious. What kills people is psychological harm: damage to the brain, shame, hopelessness and the loss of self-worth. 

“The evidence from an expert witness, our family and in notes written by Ollie himself, overwhelmingly shows that gambling caused Ollie’s death. The outcome of this hearing highlights the crucial need for increased awareness of the significant harms and risk of suicide caused by gambling. 

“Ollie tried to protect himself. He recognised the harm and signed up to self-exclusion tools to block him from all regulated gambling sites. But the illegal gambling operators horrifically and deliberately target those who have self-excluded or children. The Gambling Commission and the government are failing in their duty to protect people from this harm.  

“Legislation is outdated, regulation is poor, enforcement is weak, and advertising, particularly in sport, is inescapable. Ollie was not “vulnerable.” He was human. His death was preventable. Gambling is not harmless entertainment; it is a public health crisis. People need to know that gambling kills. We will use Ollie’s story to fight for change, so no other family has to endure this devastation.” 

The family’s solicitor, Dan Webster from Leigh Day said: 

“This inquest into Ollie’s death has highlighted the dangers of unlicensed, illegal online gambling sites and the inadequacy of the steps being taken by the Gambling Commission and the Government to tackle the harm being caused. 

“Having developed a gambling addiction by gambling with licensed online operators, Ollie had taken the initiative to exclude himself from gambling with these operators to try to beat the addiction that had caused him so much harm. However, despite the fact that Ollie had excluded himself via the appropriate channels, he was still able to access illegal gambling sites which are known to deliberately target those who have self-excluded. 

“Through the inquest process, Ollie’s family have sought to ensure that the full truth of how Ollie died is established and that others are protected from the harm which he suffered. The evidence heard has raised serious concerns over the lack of effective action being taken by Government and the Gambling Commission to prevent access to illegal providers and to stop them from exploiting individuals who have already been harmed by gambling. The coroner’s Conclusion confirms that action is needed urgently to address the risks posed by these platforms and to prevent further deaths.”