Kyle Hudson opened a Sportsbet account on his 18th birthday, and by the time he died at age 22, his total betting turnover had reached $895,733. An inquest in Victoria has heard how betting companies flagged his risky behavior but failed to prevent his suicide.
Background and Early Warning Signs
Hudson excelled in mathematics and sports, playing basketball for the Melbourne Tigers and Australian rules football for Werribee. He enrolled in a construction management degree with dreams of building stadiums. However, his gambling began immediately upon turning 18. On 31 May 2017, he opened a Sportsbet account. Within two months, Sportsbet's internal systems raised a red flag due to his youth and betting over $3,000 in a week.
Financial Details of Gambling
Forensic accountant Cameron Gray told the inquest that Hudson deposited $406,725 into his betting accounts and withdrew $358,779, resulting in a cumulative loss of $47,946. His employment income totaled $105,977, and he financed his gambling through various means, including Centrelink support, friend loans, bonus bets, crypto trading, and cash deposits of unknown origin.
Betting Companies' Responses
Over four years, Hudson's betting triggered 37 alerts in Sportsbet's systems, averaging one every six weeks. The company responded with generic safer gambling emails and occasionally suspended his account. On five occasions, Hudson called to reactivate his account, claiming he was betting within limits. Sportsbet's director of customer operations, Sarah Rizzo, said Hudson never met the highest risk threshold.
Entain brands Ladbrokes and Neds restricted Hudson from receiving bonus bets after he used them to systematically win. Christina Baek, Entain's head of compliance, described this as managing commercial risk. Bet365 issued only two behavioral alerts, the last on 5 July 2021, the day before Hudson died, with an automated message but no phone call.
Impact on Family and Partner
Hudson's partner of seven years, Ashley Baker, was most aware of his gambling. She recalled two instances where he lost substantial money: soon after turning 18, and in December 2020 when he couldn't pay for a puppy. Two days before his death, Hudson asked Baker for money without explanation, leading to their breakup. She later found a box under his bed filled with mementos from their relationship.
Hudson's brother, Ryan, told the court that the family had no idea about the depth of his gambling. He said learning that betting agencies had flagged him as at-risk from age 18 was devastating, and they did little to intervene.
Expert Testimony and Government Response
Associate Professor Sean Cowlishaw from Monash University testified that Hudson did not show typical suicide risk factors, isolating gambling's role in his death. He noted that the federal government's response to the 2023 gambling harm report addressed only three of 31 recommendations, calling it extremely disappointing.
The inquest continues, with the coroner examining whether betting companies accurately assessed Hudson's risk of harm and what can be done to prevent similar tragedies. For support, Lifeline is available at 13 11 14 and Gambling Help Online at 1800 858 858.
