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Gambler sues bookies for £2m loss | Gambler sues bookies for £2m loss |
(39 minutes later) | |
A compulsive gambler who lost more than £2m, has begun legal action against bookmaker William Hill. | |
Greyhound trainer Graham Calvert, 28, from Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, claims the company failed in their "duty of care". | Greyhound trainer Graham Calvert, 28, from Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, claims the company failed in their "duty of care". |
He claims he was allowed to place bets after asking the company to close his account under a self-exclusion scheme. | He claims he was allowed to place bets after asking the company to close his account under a self-exclusion scheme. |
William Hill denies any wrongdoing and says it cannot be held legally liable for Mr Calvert's losses. | |
'Gambling disorder' | |
At the High Court the firm was accused of manipulating his gambling disorder to gain as much revenue as possible. | |
Anneliese Day, representing Mr Calvert, told Mr Justice Briggs on Wednesday that William Hill should be held liable because it failed to operate its own self-exclusion policy. | |
She told the judge: "What in fact occurred was that William Hill actively monitored and manipulated the claimant's gambling disorder in order to gain as much revenue for their business as possible." | |
She said Mr Calvert was hoping to establish in law for the first time that bookies do owe a duty of care in his circumstances. | |
'Manic periods' | |
Ms Day said William Hill "negligently sought" to encourage Mr Calvert to go on betting sprees of hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time. | |
She also said the scale of her client's gambling was "staggering". He had periods of mania when he placed huge multiple bets in the space of a few hours, she added. | |
He lost around £347,000 in one bet alone when he backed the US to win the 2006 Ryder Cup. | |
It is alleged William Hill allowed Mr Calvert to open two new accounts and to make bets totalling around £3.5m between June and December 2006. | It is alleged William Hill allowed Mr Calvert to open two new accounts and to make bets totalling around £3.5m between June and December 2006. |
During this period he lost a total of £2.1m. | During this period he lost a total of £2.1m. |
The hearing is due to last five days. | |