UK Court Rules Against Problem Gambler

A High Court judge in London dismissed a claim for £2 million by a greyhound trainer who said the William Hill betting agency failed to prevent him from placing huge cash bets. The betting agency canceled the telephone betting account of Graham Calvert, as he requested, but the gambler responded by making cash bets at individual betting shops.

The judge specifically found that the betting agency had no duty of care "to its known problem-gambler customers to protect them from the financial and psychological consequences of their gambling." Justice Michael Briggs added that even if the agency had managed to exclude Calvert, "his pathological gambling disorder would still probably have brought about his financial ruin, but over a longer period of time."

In a striking contrast to the Canadian practice regarding legal fees discussed in the story above, the court ordered Calvert, the gambler, to pay William Hill's legal fees, which totaled £336,000.