This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/wear/7254250.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Gambler sues bookies for £2m loss | Gambler sues bookies for £2m loss |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A gambler suing bookmaker William Hill for £2m for allowing him to bet after he asked them to stop taking his money is to have his case heard in court. | A gambler suing bookmaker William Hill for £2m for allowing him to bet after he asked them to stop taking his money is to have his case heard in court. |
| 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. |
| The firm will tell the High Court it cannot be liable for the losses. | The firm will tell the High Court it cannot be liable for the losses. |
| 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. |
| Social responsibility | Social responsibility |
| During this period he lost a total of £2.1m. | During this period he lost a total of £2.1m. |
| He lost around £347,000 on one bet alone when he backed the USA to win the 2006 Ryder Cup. | He lost around £347,000 on one bet alone when he backed the USA to win the 2006 Ryder Cup. |
| His solicitors, Newcastle-based Ward Hadaway, say the case is a crucial test of the betting industry's social responsibility policies. | His solicitors, Newcastle-based Ward Hadaway, say the case is a crucial test of the betting industry's social responsibility policies. |
| Lawyer Peter Hornsey said: "It goes to the issue of how bookmakers treat people who have gambling problems via their self-exclusion policy. | Lawyer Peter Hornsey said: "It goes to the issue of how bookmakers treat people who have gambling problems via their self-exclusion policy. |
| "It also concerns whether they can be held responsible when they advertise themselves as offering self-exclusion and promoting socially-responsible gambling." | "It also concerns whether they can be held responsible when they advertise themselves as offering self-exclusion and promoting socially-responsible gambling." |
| William Hill says it will defend the case "vigorously". | William Hill says it will defend the case "vigorously". |
| Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT) has called for a UK-wide database which would give better protection to problem gamblers. | Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT) has called for a UK-wide database which would give better protection to problem gamblers. |
| Mr Calvert is currently awaiting trial at Newcastle Crown Court charged over alleged firearms and drugs offences. |