National Lottery Gambling Controls Urged After Coroner's Warning

A coroner has warned that there is a risk of further deaths unless online National Lottery games are integrated into the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme. The concern was raised following an inquest into the death of a man who had struggled with gambling addiction.

The inquest heard that the individual had battled addiction since 2006, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage the following year. Despite attempting to self-exclude from licensed online gambling operators in 2018 and again in 2024 through GAMSTOP, he continued to gamble online with the National Lottery Draw. His final bank transaction from a nearly depleted account was to this service.

His body was discovered on August 18, 2025, and a post-mortem examination determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation. The coroner concluded that the death was a suicide.

In her report, the coroner expressed concern that the exclusion of online gambling with the National Lottery Draw from the GAMSTOP scheme created a risk that individuals who had self-excluded would still be able to gamble with the National Lottery. The deceased man's daughter welcomed the coroner's report, emphasizing the "glaring omission" that National Lottery gaming products are not covered by GAMSTOP.

A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission stated that while National Lottery draw-based games are generally considered lower risk compared to other gambling products, the commission will consider potential changes. This includes exploring the possibility of extending the scope of GAMSTOP in some form. For individuals affected by issues raised in this story, resources are available through the BBC Action Line.