A Victorian coroner has ruled a young man's sports betting addiction led to his suicide, while handing down scathing findings about the Australian gambling sector and its impact on society.
Kyle Hudson opened an account with Sportsbet on his 18th birthday and went on to wager $895,733 with various betting companies until his death four years later in 2021.
The Werribee man's net losses totalled $47,945, a large amount for a 22-year-old who was still studying and working part-time casual jobs, Coroner Paul Lawrie said.
Kyle Hudson opened a Sportsbet account on the day he turned 18. (ABC News: Patrick Stone)
His final losses occurred on July 6, 2021, when bets of $5,000 and $1,300 failed to get up.
Mr Hudson's mother found him dead later that night.
The coroner found online gambling was the main and direct cause of Mr Hudson's decision to take his own life.
He noted Mr Hudson had no history of mental illness or drug and alcohol problems.
"Kyle was a young man brimming with promise, and his story is heartbreaking,"
Coroner Lawrie said.
"Ultimately, he lost everything."
In the lead-up to his death, Mr Hudson's long-time girlfriend Ashley Baker tried in vain to help curb his habit.
Mr Hudson had agreed to let Ms Baker manage his finances and pay him a $50-a-week gambling "allowance", however he found other ways to hide his extensive betting habit.
"He was unable to stop betting," Coroner Lawrie said.
Sportsbet argued Kyle Hudson did not have a gambling addiction
In broad-ranging recommendations, the coroner said the federal government should consider banning all gambling advertising on mainstream and social media.
He also called for a ban on gambling inducements, such as "bonus bets", for young customers.
A national gambling data vault should also be created, he said.
Coroner Paul Lawrie noted that Mr Hudson had no history of mental illness or drug and alcohol problems. (ABC News: Darryl Torpy)
Coroner Lawrie said the data, maintained by the federal government, could be studied and used to assess bookmakers' monitoring programs for problem gamblers.
"We need to know what works, what is likely to work, and what is a mirage," he said.
In Mr Hudson's case, Sportsbet was the main online bookmaker he used but he also held accounts with companies including bet365, Neds and Ladbrokes.
A major flaw, the coroner said, was that each betting company could only see Mr Hudson's activity on its own platform, leaving it blind to his betting elsewhere.
Mr Hudson also had accounts with companies including bet365. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy, File photo)
Sportsbet sent Mr Hudson numerous emails about his gambling activity and suspended his account multiple times, however he was able to re-activate it after telling the company he was betting within his limits.
At the inquest, Sportsbet's lawyers argued that Mr Hudson did not have a gambling problem.
"It is chilling that this is Sportsbet's view," Coroner Lawrie said, given the tragic outcome.
While there was no direct evidence that Mr Hudson's gambling habits were influenced by advertising, the coroner said it was "naive in the extreme" to think it didn't have an impact.
"Kyle did not simply decide, out of nowhere, to open his first betting account on his 18th birthday,"
Coroner Lawrie said.
In closing remarks, the coroner said revenue from sports betting companies flowed through to local clubs, media companies and the government tax coffers.
Sportsbet's lawyers argued at the inquest that Mr Hudson did not have a gambling problem. (ABC)
"The source of all this money lies not in some bright vein of national wealth; it lies in the losses of many thousands of gamblers attracted to the offerings of online betting companies," he said.
"They are dangerous and capable of causing misery and great harm, especially for the young or those whose traits may make them more vulnerable."
Mr Hudson's family were in court and made no comment outside, other than to say they were pleased with the findings.
A Sportsbet spokesperson said Mr Hudson's death was tragic and that the company would consider the findings and recommendations.
"Sportsbet acknowledges there is more to do, and we remain committed to continually strengthening consumer protections," they said.
Australians spend $30 billion each year on gambling, and Coroner Lawrie said the country had the dubious title of "leading the world in per capita gambling spending and gambling losses".
New national gambling laws will come into effect in January, including an opt-out service for online betting advertising.
The measures don't go as far as what was proposed by late Labor MP Peta Murphy in 2023, when an inquiry she led recommended banning gambling ads during sporting events.