“Return my mentally ill son’s money”: Dad’s appeal to gambling firm TonyBet – The Crusader

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The UK’s current complex gambling rules have proved inadequate and offered no official protection for pitifully vulnerable Stuart, 28, whose plight Crusader featured in March.

A car accident last year, which left him with delusions and distorted notions of risk, led to over £100,000 of losses.

Much of the money used came from an accident pay out he received designed to support his care needs.  

++ If you’ve been affected by this issue or feel you’ve been a victim of injustice, please contact consumer and small business champion Maisha Frost on [email protected] ++

Once dad Jeff discovered the betting frenzy he took over his tormented son’s affairs. When Stuart desperately approached some companies he received legal threats and tried to kill himself.

Time and again Jeff sent firms legal and medical proof explaining the tragic situation in a bid to recoup the money. 

All are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.

Now Jeff’s tireless efforts, supported by Crusader, have seen £80,000 returned.

Most firms imposed gagging orders but, once they finally got the message about what had happened to Stuart, compassionate recognition prevailed too.

Over the time a couple of companies have gone under however leaving any fight for refunds locked in limbo with administrators.  

A £5,000 high interest, payday loan that Stuart took out from struggling lender Provident has been terminated.

He paid back £3,400, but the question remains of whether he should have been lent the sum in the first place. 

 Most of Stuart’s payments range from £1,000 to £5,000, but Jeff claims over three months records show he spent £19,694 with TonyBet.

“I’ve sent them tens of emails. Their saying they don’t understand or have verification issues have worn me out. Even if they didn’t know at the time what was going on they do now, yet the moral aspect counts for nothing,” he claims.  

“We feel like pawns in a game. My son was not responsible for his actions and only knowing how sick he is has pushed me to carry on.” 

TonyBet is part of Lithuanian businessman Antanas Guoga’s empire.

Also known as the “poker king”, Guoga is a former member of the European Parliament. 

Crusader also contacted TonyBet numerous times to no avail.

Most recently it told Jeff “all the procedures were followed correctly” and it would not be providing refunds. 

There seems a glaring contradiction between some companies’ public support for vulnerable gamblers compared to the evasive, heartless way they handle individual inquiries in private. 

With some of public utterances seeming token at best, this is compounded by another feature of the redress chaos that leaves people without a clue where they stand. 

Crusader has also noticed how data privacy rules can be weaponised to block worried families getting to the bottom of what has gone on and achieve justice. 

There also seems widespread misunderstanding among companies about how, under current rules, the Gambling Commission, which is not an ombudsman, can help. 

This also applies to the dispute resolution service IBAS, which cannot consider an alleged breach of licence conditions. 

When Jeff explained his son’s situation to gambling operators he would routinely receive replies that that side-stepped the problem and just signposted him on, recommending he go to IBAS or the Commission as if that would sort matters. 

“I was just sent round in circles and asked to provide information we’ve not got a hope of obtaining, the time wasting made sure I was caught in the middle and took me away from caring for my son,” claims Jeff. 

The Gambling Commission confirmed to Crusader: “We do not comment on individual cases but when we take action we may publish it on our website.”

Government is now reviewing gambling rules with reform proposals expected later this year. 

Hopes are that the gaps having such a terrible effect on some consumers’ lives will be closed. 

Calls from groups helping gambling addicts and their families as well as MPs demanding clarity and the creation of an ombudsman are stronger than ever.

· Stuart and Jeff’s names have been changed.

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