Lee was a funny, kind-hearted person and loved greatly by everyone. He was Uncle Lee to his own nieces and nephews as well as the others he thought of as nieces and nephews.

He always wanted to make others smile, no matter what they were going through, and he knew how to achieve it. No one saw his death coming. Lee had achieved great things at work, had a promotion and was working towards higher goals before he died in July 2020, aged 36.

Following his death, the true extent of Lee’s gambling and the shocking behaviour of the companies he gambled with was revealed. During his inquest, and from the data uncovered, it was clear that he was continuously encouraged to gamble, with incentives and free beds, despite so many warning signs he was suffering severe harm. 

In 2025, after five long and hard-fought years, Lee’s family heard the Coroner conclude that gambling disorder was to be recorded among the medical causes of Lee’s death. This was the second time gambling disorder has been listed as a medical cause of death, and has the potential to have a significant impact on future recognition, investigation and recording of gambling at inquests, helping to drive reform, prevention, future harm and hopefully achieve some sense of justice for those affected.  

The operators Lee gambled with, as well as the industry, should answer for their dangerous and exploitative practices and what they did to Lee and his family and friends who loved him dearly.