An Australian coronial inquest is examining whether major betting companies failed to intervene adequately before a 22-year-old Melbourne man died after years of compulsive gambling.
The case centers on Kyle Hudson, who wagered AUD 895,733 through online betting platforms between 2017 and July 2021. Hudson, from Werribee in Victoria, died by suicide on July 6, 2021, after struggling with gambling addiction for several years.
The inquiry is reviewing Hudson’s betting activity with operators including Sportsbet, Entain, and bet365, alongside his financial and personal history.
Evidence presented during the hearing showed Hudson opened a Sportsbet account on his 18th birthday and quickly developed heavy betting habits. Within his first six months on the platform, he placed 999 bets with an average stake of AUD 107. The court heard he averaged 4.6 bets per day during his time with the operator.
Although Hudson’s total net losses were reported at more than AUD 47,000, the inquest heard that repeated gambling cycles caused severe emotional and financial distress. His longtime girlfriend, Ashley Baker, testified that gambling became the only major source of conflict in their relationship.
She recalled an early incident after Hudson lost AUD 2,000 shortly after turning 18. According to testimony, he told her he had “lost it all” and said he wanted to die. Baker described that moment as the point when his gambling behavior began escalating.
The hearing also revealed Hudson attempted several measures to control his gambling, including setting account limits and temporarily stepping away from betting. After losing AUD 20,000 in savings in late 2020, he handed control of his finances and betting account passwords to Baker.
In the final days before his death, Hudson reportedly borrowed money from Baker, who eventually transferred around AUD 5,500 to him. She later discovered he had continued gambling and had lost his remaining savings in the final 24 hours of his life.
Sportsbet representatives told the court Hudson triggered 37 behavioral risk alerts during his activity on the platform. Most were linked to his age and weekly betting volumes exceeding AUD 3,000. The operator said its response typically involved sending responsible gambling emails or conducting conversations with safer gambling staff.
However, counsel assisting the coroner argued that many of the automated messages were generic and lacked meaningful intervention tailored to Hudson’s situation. The company acknowledged that its internal procedures have changed since 2021 and said similar behavior today would generate substantially more alerts and stricter controls, including deposit restrictions.