Oliver Long

Department for Education 
Piccadilly Gate, Store 
Street, Manchester, M1 
2WD 

Date: 6 March 2026 

Dear Laura Bradford (Senior Coroner for East Sussex) 

Prevention of Future Death Report – Oliver Anderson Long 

I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Oliver Anderson 
Long. 

Officials within the Department for Education have undertaken a review of the report and 
fully recognise the importance of the issues you have raised. Following this consideration, 
we have concluded that responsibility for these matters lies outside the remit of this 
Department. The organisations identified within the report may be best placed to provide 
you with a full and comprehensive response, and we trust they will be able to address your 
concerns appropriately. 

Families Central Division Deputy Director, Department for Education

Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling
1st Floor
100 Parliament Street
London SW1A 2BQ

10 March 2026

Ms Laura Bradford
Senior Coroner, East Sussex Coroner Service

Dear Ms Bradford,

Response to Regulation 28 report following the inquest into the death of Mr Oliver Long

1.

2.

I write in response to the Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths (the Report) dated 14 
January 2026, made following the inquest into the death of Mr Oliver Long (Ollie). I write on 
behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Department of Health and 
Social Care (DHSC), and the Department for Education (DfE) as the Minister for Museums, 
Heritage and Gambling. 

In providing this response to the Report, the Central Government Departments (CGDs) wish to 
repeat their sincere condolences to Ollie’s family and friends on their tragic loss. The 
Government has a continued commitment to protecting people from gambling-related harm and 
preventing future tragedies under similar circumstances. The CGDs have carefully considered 
the concerns you highlight, and will continue to take action to make gambling safer and increase 
protections for those at risk of harm.

3. The Report arises from the Inquest into the death of Ollie which finished on 13 January 2026 and 

the particular matters of concern identified in the Report were that:

i.

ii.

iii.

The UK self-exclusion scheme, GamStop, which allows customers to bar 
themselves from all forms of legal and licensed online betting, does not capture 
overseas unlicensed sites and people who have self-excluded may be able to 
access these sites or are being deliberately targeted by them.
Consumers may not be aware that they have accessed an unlicensed site and in 
doing so have moved outside of the realm of the regulated area. Consumers are 
unlikely to check that a site is licensed prior to accessing it, particularly if the 
advert for the site is in a trusted space, such as on social media. The result is that 
people who are at risk of gambling-related harm in accessing these sites are not 
protected by features such as limit setting and slowing down of gains, and they 
may not be aware that these features are unlikely to be present on the site they 
are using.
There is a lack of adequate public health information and warning relating to the 
risks posed by unlicensed gambling sites.

4. The concerns are addressed by the appropriate CGDs, drawing upon their relevant policy 

knowledge and expertise.

 Background

5. The Government recognises that harmful gambling can wreck the lives of individuals, families 
and communities. Ensuring that when gambling takes place, it does so safely is a top cross-
departmental priority. 

6. From December 2020 to April 2023, the previous Government undertook an extensive review of 
the Gambling Act 2005. This culminated in the white paper entitled ‘High stakes: gambling 
reform for the digital age’, published in April 2023. This is the most comprehensive review of 
gambling legislation in Great Britain for 20 years, outlining a package of new protections to build 
on existing controls and help safeguard customers.

7. A number of the proposals in the white paper relate to the protection of those who gamble online, 

which are being introduced in addition to the measures outlined below in relation to your 
concerns. For example, in April 2025, the Government introduced online slot stake limits of £5 
per spin for adults aged 25 and over. The Government has also introduced the statutory levy on 
gambling operators, which will raise upwards of £100 million annually to see increased, 
independent and sustainable funding for research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related 
harm.  

8. The Gambling Commission also continues to implement a range of measures, including financial 
risk checks, strengthened rules on marketing, and improving access to pre-commitment tools, 
like deposit limits. 

Concerns I and II: GamStop does not capture overseas unlicensed sites and people who have 
self-excluded may be able to access these sites or are being deliberately targeted by them, and 
consumers may not be aware that they have accessed an unlicensed site and may be unaware 
that they are not protected by features such as limit setting and slowing down of gains

9. Licensed operators must provide facilities to allow gamblers to self-exclude. In 2020, the 

Gambling Commission mandated all licensed online operators to sign up to GamStop, the 
national self-exclusion scheme, taking regulatory action against operators who fail to comply.

10. DCMS and the Gambling Commission are aware that some illegal websites are targeted at 

people who experience significant harms from their gambling and self-excluded gamblers, such 
as Ollie. We have committed to taking action to tackle this problem as part of wider efforts to 
address the risks posed by the illegal market. 

11. As part of its 2024 to 2027 Corporate Strategy, the Gambling Commission has committed to 

increase investment, resource, and capacity to tackle illegal gambling, and the Government has 
committed to provide the Gambling Commission with an additional £26 million over the next 3 
years to do so. The Gambling Commission has conducted research to improve its evidence base 
around the unlicensed gambling market, using web traffic data and gambling behaviour data to 
estimate the size of the online unlicensed market and qualitative research to understand 
consumer motivations for participation in illegal gambling. 

12. The Government is acutely aware of the risks associated with unlicensed gambling and is 

committed to working with the Gambling Commission to ensure it has all the powers it needs to 
tackle illegal gambling. The Crime and Policing Bill, introduced in Parliament in February 2025, 
will grant the Gambling Commission new powers to more quickly and effectively take down 
illegal gambling websites. 

13. DCMS also launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce in January 2026, which brings together a 

wide range of stakeholders to take action against the illegal market. It will focus on 3 main areas: 

 advertising of illegal gambling, preventing payments associated with illegal gambling, and 
improving cross-agency collaboration and enforcement. 

14. DCMS recognises that more work needs to be done to ensure that gambling advertising does 
not exacerbate harm and is working closely, across Government and with industry, to ensure 
everyone, including the most vulnerable, are protected from the potential harms associated with 
unlicensed websites. 

Concern III: There is a lack of adequate public health information and warning relating to the 
risks posed by unlicensed gambling sites

15. In April 2025, the statutory levy on gambling operators came into effect, under which the Office 

for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) is the commissioner for the prevention of 
gambling-related harm in England, working alongside Public Health Scotland and Public Health 
Wales. OHID is working at pace to develop an effective and co-ordinated public health approach 
to gambling harm prevention which is evidence-based and has real impact. 

16. Given this is a new programme of activity, OHID will employ a ‘test and learn’ approach to better 

understand what interventions are most effective in preventing gambling harms at a local, 
regional and national level.

17. In January 2026, OHID launched the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector 

Gambling Harms Prevention Grant Fund for organisations wishing to deliver prevention activity 
to support people at risk of gambling related harm, which may include activity to deliver public 
health campaigns in different localities. OHID will evaluate the impact of successful bids over the 
course of the next 2 years to inform longer term policy decisions around effective harm 
prevention measures. 

18. Additionally, OHID plans to fund upper tier local authorities from financial year 2026/27 to deliver 
on prevention related activity for gambling-related harm, which will include understanding the 
local need and working to ensure there is a holistic approach to gambling harms prevention. A 
number of pilot projects have been funded in quarter four of financial year 2025/26, including the 
development of a media campaigns toolkit which will be a helpful resource for local areas going 
forward. OHID have also funded 2 national symposiums for local authorities to share knowledge 
of best practice for gambling harm prevention.

19. The levy also provides the opportunity to build the evidence for effective campaigns to tackle 

gambling-related harms. As part of their ongoing work, OHID intends to raise awareness of the 
risks of harmful gambling and support behaviour change through national campaigns. As per the 
2023 white paper commitment, OHID also continues to work with DCMS and the Gambling 
Commission to strengthen informational messaging, including on the risks associated with 
gambling, with a view to replacing the current narrative based around ‘individual responsibility’. 
OHID will consider how best to include health information and warnings relating to the risks 
posed by unlicensed gambling sites, as part of this workstream. Further information will be 
shared on this as work progresses.  

20. Within schools, statutory ‘Relationships, Sex and Health Education’ supports children and young 
people to manage risk and make informed decisions in relation to their mental wellbeing and 
online behaviour.

21. DfE published revised Relationships, Sex and Health Education statutory guidance on 15 July 

2025, which sets out a comprehensive and age-appropriate curriculum for all pupils in England. 
The revised guidance will become statutory on 1 September 2026, replacing the existing 
guidance which has been in force since 2020. Curriculum content to be covered by the end of 
secondary education includes: the risks related to online gambling and gambling-like content 

 within gaming, including the accumulation of debt; that gambling can lead to serious mental 
health harms, including anxiety, depression, and suicide, and that some gambling products are 
more likely to cause these harms than others; how advertising and information is targeted at 
them and how to be a discerning consumer of information online, understanding the prevalence 
of misinformation and disinformation online. 

22. The Government recognises the need to be at the forefront of emerging risks for children and 
young people as the gambling landscape evolves. To inform the approach to education and 
support materials, OHID is working to build the evidence based upon the outcomes of the 
prevention work currently underway across the voluntary sector and planned for local authorities.

Conclusion

23. The Government remains committed to tackling gambling-related harms. Working with the 

Gambling Commission, DCMS is committed to strengthening protections for those at risk through 
a range of new safer gambling requirements. DCMS and the other CGDs will continue to review 
the best available evidence to inform our decisions on how best to fulfil our commitment to tackle 
gambling-related harm.

24. DCMS recognises the unique opportunity presented by the introduction of the statutory gambling 

levy to build an independent, robust approach to the research, prevention and treatment of 
gambling-related harm that is rooted in the principles of public health. DCMS has confidence that 
the commissioners under the levy, including OHID, are best placed to maximise the impact of the 
dedicated funding made available to them, and will continue to work together to ensure this. 

DCMS, DHSC and DfE hope that the matters set out above address, in sufficient detail, the concerns 
raised in the Report. If, however, further information or clarification would be of assistance the CGDs will 
of course endeavour to provide this, as required.

With best wishes,

Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling

Laura Bradford, HM Senior Coroner, East Sussex

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for 
Women’s Health and Mental Health 

39 Victoria Street 
London 
SW1H 0EU 

05 March 2026 

Dear Ms Bradford, 

Inquest following the death of Oliver Long – Response to regulation 28 

I write on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to acknowledge 
receipt of the Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, which was issued on 14 
January 2026 following the inquest into the death of Oliver Long. The report was addressed 
to DHSC, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Department for 
Education, and the Gambling Commission. 

On behalf of the department, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Ollie’s family 
and friends on their tragic loss. His death, under such tragic circumstances, serves as a 
stark reminder of the devastating impact that gambling-related harm can have on 
individuals and those close to them. The Government recognises the seriousness of these 
harms and is committed to protecting individuals and communities and strengthening 
protections through ongoing regulatory reform.    

In relation to the matters of concern set out in your report, DCMS, as the lead government 
department responsible for gambling policy and regulation, is leading the development of a 
single cross-agency response, working collaboratively with relevant policy officials across 
the named organisations. DHSC fully supports this approach and is actively contributing to 
the response, particularly in respect of public health considerations.  

A substantive response addressing the concerns raised in your report will be submitted to 
you by DCMS on behalf of all named recipients within the statutory timeframe.

6 March 2026 

Senior Coroner Laura Bradford  
Coroner’s Officer 
East Sussex Coroners Service  
Westfield House, County Hall 
Lewes,  
East Sussex  
BN7 1UE 

Dear Senior Coroner Bradford, 

Response to Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths -  Oliver Long 

1.  I write on behalf of the Gambling Commission (“the Commission”) in response to the 

Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths (“the Report”) dated 14 January 2026, 
made following the inquest into the death of Mr Oliver Anderson Long (hereinafter 
referred to as “Ollie” in line with the family’s wishes). 

2.  The Commission and I wish to reiterate our sincere condolences and deepest 

sympathies to Ollie’s family following their tragic loss.   

3.  The Coroner’s inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern, which are set out in 

section 5 of the Report and summarised as follows: 

3.1. GamStop, the UK self-exclusion scheme, which allows customers to bar themselves 

from all forms of legal and licensed online betting, does not capture overseas 
unlicensed sites and people who have self-excluded may be able to access these 
sites or be deliberately targeted by them. 

3.2. Consumers may not be aware they have accessed an unlicensed site and in doing 

so have moved out of the regulated area. Consumers are unlikely to check that a 
site is licensed prior to accessing it, particularly if advertised in a trusted space such 
as on social media. The result is that, in accessing these sites, people at risk of 
gambling related harm are not protected by features such as limit setting and 
slowing down of gains and may not be aware that such features are unlikely to be 
present. 

3.3. There is a lack of adequate public health information and warning relating to the 

risks posed by unlicensed gambling sites. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4.  The Commission’s understanding is that the matters of concern described at paragraphs 
3.1 and 3.2 above arise from both a lack of, and inadequacies within, existing public 
health information. To allay those concerns and thereby prevent future deaths, the 
Coroner considers appropriate action should be taken to ensure that public health 
information and warnings about the risks posed by unlicensed gambling sites are 
increased and improved.  

5.  The Commission’s principal function, and the statutory powers that support them, are set 
out in the Gambling Act 2005 (“the Act”). In summary, the Commission has statutory 
powers to: 

5.1. license gambling operators and individuals. 
5.2. prepare and publish a number of key documents that set out the responsibilities of 

those that hold operating or personal licences and our approach in regulating the 
gambling sector. This includes outlining operator requirements and expectations 
within the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice, comprising licence conditions, 
codes of practice, and social responsibility code provisions. 

5.3. undertake activities for the purpose of assessing compliance with the provisions 

made by or by virtue of the Act. 

5.4. carry out formal licence reviews of operating and personal licences for specified 

reasons. 

5.5. publish guidance to licensing authorities on the exercise of their functions. 
5.6. provide advice to the Secretary of State on matters relating to gambling. 
5.7. investigate whether an offence has been committed under the Act, and to pursue 

criminal proceedings if this is the case. 

6.  In exercising its powers, the Commission imposes strict obligations on those it licenses 
and enforces those obligations appropriately. For example, failure to comply with any of 
the requirements placed on a licensee can lead to the commencement of formal licence 
reviews, which may culminate in the imposition of a formal sanction including licence 
revocation. It can also lead to criminal action in cases. 

7.  The Commission also works with a wide range of other regulators, public health bodies, 
the third sector and businesses to reduce gambling related harms.  The Commission 
currently has two independent expert advisory groups, who provide independent advice 
to support the development of our regulatory approach. These are the Lived Experience 
Advisory Panel (LEAP) and the Digital Advisory Panel (DAP).  Further, the Commission 
is continuously developing and strengthening methodologies to understand gambling 
harms through its own research. 

8.  As set out above, the Commission works under a statutory regime relating to the 

regulation of gambling. The Commission has not historically received taxpayer funding 
for its work under the Gambling Act. Its regulatory activities are funded through licence 
fees charged to regulated individuals and entities. Those fees are set by the Secretary of 
State. However, in November 2025 the Government announced in the Budget that they 
would provide additional taxpayer funding to the Commission specifically for the purpose 
of addressing risks from the illegal market and to build upon the existing programme of 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 work that the Commission does to disrupt illegal gambling and prevent unlicensed 
gambling operators from targeting consumers in Great Britain. 

9.  We agree that it is important for consumers to understand the risks that could be posed 
by sites, often based overseas, that are not licensed here in Britain. Such sites do not 
meet the same consumer protection standards that are required by domestic gambling 
operators licensed by the Commission. While this is important area, the Commission is 
not a public health body and does not have the statutory powers to design or deliver 
public health information or awareness campaigns. It is our view that responsibility for 
such action rests with the other recipients of the Report. 

10. Reflecting the fact that the Commission does not hold statutory responsibilities for public 
information campaigns, the Government’s 2023 Gambling White Paper recognised the 
importance of developing clear and systematic messaging to support consumers in 
making informed decisions, with a fuller understanding of potential risks. The Department 
for Culture, Media and Sport committed to working with the Department of Health and 
Social Care to develop a robust approach to informational messaging. Once suitable 
campaigns have been established, the White Paper sets out that the Gambling 
Commission will have a role in guiding how licensed operators should engage with and 
apply these messages. 

11. We consider that messaging on the risks of unlicensed gambling sites could be 

developed as part of the Government’s work. The Commission remains ready to consult 
on requirements for licensed gambling operators to apply any messaging that is 
developed by the Government. 

12. Any decision to run a campaign, and its content, would need to be informed by an 

assessment of both the nature and scale of the risk posed by unlicensed sites, and 
whether, on balance, the benefits favour proceeding. By way of illustration, some 
consumers who access unlicensed sites do so deliberately because they are unlicensed 
and do not have the protections afforded by licensed sites. A public information 
campaign could have the unintended consequence of giving publicity to the existence of 
gambling sites which consumers who are self-excluded can access, and so may 
exacerbate the very problem it is designed to solve. These are matters which would 
need to be carefully weighed by the Government department responsible for the 
campaign.  

13. In conclusion, as the action proposed in the Report falls outside of the Commission’s 

remit, we are unable to implement it. Nevertheless, we remain willing to share 
information and cooperate with the relevant bodies within the scope of our functions. 

Yours sincerely, 

Executive Director