A South Londoner with a gambling addiction took his own life after pacing 628 bets – almost his entire monthly pay – in around an hour.
13:46, 09 Nov 2025Updated 11:20, 10 Nov 2025
Lee Adams, 36, died in his Streatham home in 2020,
A South Londoner with a gambling addiction took his own life after pacing 628 bets – and almost his entire monthly pay – in around an hour. And his family say no one stopped him.
Lee Adams, 36, died in his Streatham home in 2020, after developing a gambling addiction – he lost his entire monthly pay on online slots games in the hours before his death, the lawyers representing the family said. A coroner at an inquest into his death said that he was surprised Lee’s levels of gambling did not trigger intervention/
His cousin, Natalie Ashbolt, said she only learnt of Lee’s problem in March 2020 after he won over £90,000 on online slot games. Lee initially planned to use this money to buy himself a house, which he had dreamed of doing for a long time, but just a few weeks later he told Natalie that he had lost so much of his winnings that he could no longer afford to pay a deposit to buy a property and would only be able to rent somewhere.
In the following months, Natalie described how Lee became increasingly desperate due to the impact of his gambling and told her that he ‘could not forgive himself’ for being unable to control his habit.
Lee’s family want more to be done to protect people from the dangers of online gambling and that his death highlights the dangers of addictive online slot games and the targeting of customers with inducements to gamble more.
Lee’s sister Lisa Osborne-Adams said: “The inquest process has confirmed to us what we have firmly believed ever since Lee died: that he had a severe Gambling Disorder and that this is what caused his death. My brother Lee was deeply loving and unfailingly loyal, he always put others before himself and would have done anything for anyone, especially his family.
“To have lost our beloved Lee due to the gambling which consumed him has left a hole in our hearts that can never fully heal. To his family and friends, Lee was everything and always will be.”
Lee’s cousin, Natalie Ashbolt added: “Lee took the overdose which caused his death within around half an hour of his final gambling on his account, having lost almost all his monthly pay in just over an hour.
“This had a devastating impact on him at a time when he was particularly vulnerable and pushed him into an unbearable place, ultimately leading to his death.
“To our family and all those who loved him, Lee will always be more than the struggles he faced. We will remember him for his bravery, his humour, and the boundless love he gave without hesitation. Lee had so much to live for and so much more to give to the world and our family will always carry him in our hearts.”
Lee’s family want the Gambling Commission and the industry to do more to ensure that gamblers are not targeted with inducements to gamble more when they are already showing clear signs of harm.
At the inquest, a gambling standards expert Professor David Forrest, said there were multiple indicators of harm in Lee’s gambling with throughout the period from late March 2020 until Lee’s death and that the operator should have done more to intervene. Lee’s gambling behaviour was described as ‘exceptional’ and ‘extreme’.
He also gave evidence that the operator’s provision of bonuses and rewards to Lee, who was part of a ‘VIP’ promotional scheme, was inappropriate and dangerous, given that Lee was a customer who should have been recognised as being vulnerable.
Professor Dame Clare Gerada, a GP expert with a specialism in Gambling Disorder, gave evidence that Lee had a severe and persistent Gambling Disorder and that Lee’s gambling exacerbated his anxiety and created “a vicious cycle of financial and emotional distress. The guilt, shame, and hopelessness caused by his gambling led to feelings of deep emotional pain. This emotional turmoil likely contributed to the deterioration of his mental state, although the gambling disorder itself was the main factor.”
Also giving evidence at the inquest, Kane Purdy, Managing Director of Virgin Games’ parent company, Gamesys Operations Limited, the operator which Lee gambled on, was satisfied that Lee was able to afford his gambling between March and July 2020 due to his big win. He stated that the operator did not consider Lee to be ‘chasing his losses’ because he was in a ‘net positive’ position, having won more money with the operator overall than he had lost.
Lee’s family are represented by Merry Varney and Dan Webster with Helena Hart-Watson at law firm Leigh Day and counsel Jesse Nicholls of Matrix Chambers.
Help for problems with gambling
If gambling is seriously affecting your mental health and you need help urgently find out where to get urgent help for your mental health.
You can go to a specialist gambling treatment clinic in England. There are also charities and support groups that offer free, confidential support to people who are gambling, and their friends and family.
The National Gambling Helpline (run by GamCare) – call 0808 8020 133 for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for free information, support and counsellingGambleAware – the National Gambling Support Network servicePrimary Care Gambling Service – a national service providing support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harmsGamLearn – the Gambling Lived Experience and Recovery Network serviceGamblers Anonymous – a local support group service that uses the 12-step approach to recoveryCitizens Advice Bureau – a charity that can advise you on a range of issues, including finances and gamblingChapterOne – a charity that can provide advice and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms
Don’t miss out on the biggest local stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.