(LONDON) – A coroner concluded that a gambling disorder contributed to the 2020 suicide of Lee Adams, 36, after his family fought to have gambling considered a factor in his death.
The family of a man who died by suicide after placing over 600 bets in one hour say their inquest was a struggle to have gambling recognized as a contributing factor.
- Lee Adams, 36, of South London, took his own life hours after placing hundreds of bets on an online slots website in July 2020.
- His family had to instruct lawyers to persuade the coroner to consider the impact of his gambling.
- the family’s solicitors believe this was only the third inquest in the UK to deeply examine the role of gambling in a death.
- up to nearly 500 gambling-related suicides occur in England each year, according to a report by the Office for Health Advancement and Disparities.
In the early hours of July 24, 2020, Lee Adams placed hundreds of bets on an online slots website shortly after receiving his monthly salary, according to his family. Within hours, he died by suicide.
A Lengthy Battle for Recognition
More than five years later, in November 2025, a coroner concluded that a gambling disorder had contributed to Adams’s death. His cousin, Natalie Ashbolt, said the family had to instruct lawyers to ensure the coroner considered the impact of his gambling, and is now calling for better support for families affected by gambling-related deaths.
Ashbolt, whose family received support from the campaign group Gambling with Lives, said she was shocked by how challenging the process was, and expressed concern that other bereaved families will struggle to achieve a similar outcome at inquest. “the inquest was a battle from beginning to end,” Ashbolt told the BBC.
The family’s solicitors, Leigh day, believe Adams’s inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court was only the third time the role of gambling had been considered in depth at an inquest. This occurred despite a report by the office for Health Improvement and Disparities indicating there are up to nearly 500 gambling-related suicides in England each year.
Why It Matters
The Adams case highlights the challenges families face in having gambling addiction recognized as a contributing factor in suicide deaths. the limited number of inquests that have thoroughly examined the link between gambling and suicide points to a systemic underreporting or undervaluation of the issue, potentially hindering efforts to prevent future tragedies. The case underscores the need for increased awareness of gambling-related harm and improved support services for both individuals struggling with addiction and their families.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by the BBC and added independent analysis and context.
Here’s a breakdown of how the questions are answered within the revised article:
* Who: Lee Adams,a 36-year-old man from South London,died by suicide. His family, particularly his cousin natalie Ashbolt, fought for gambling to be recognized as a contributing factor.
* What: Lee Adams placed over 600 bets on an online slots website within an hour after receiving his salary, and subsequently died by suicide. The inquest into his death initially did not fully consider the
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