GPs urged to ask patients about gambling habits in same way they ask about smoking and alcohol

GPs have been urged to ask patients about gambling habits in the same way they ask about smoking and alcohol after a man took his own life shortly after placing 628 bets in just over an hour.

Lee Adams, 36, died in his home in Streatham on July 24, 2020 after developing a gambling disorder. That day Lee had placed hundreds of bets on online slot games and had spent almost all of his monthly salary in the hours before his death.

On November 7, 2025, Dr Julian Morris, the Senior Coroner for Inner South London, concluded that a gambling disorder was one of the medical causes of Lee’s death.

Dr Morris found in the months leading up to his death, which was during the Covid-19 lockdown, Lee had become “increasingly reliant” and involved in gambling.

In March, Lee was contacted about his deposits but he stated he was fine. He continued to gamble and was not identified as being at risk. He was sadly pronounced dead at 3.39am on July 24.

In a Prevention of Future Deaths report addressed to the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) on March 20, 2026, Dr Morris said: “GPs should be reminded to ask individuals about their gambling habits in the same way that they ask about smoking and alcohol.”

A spokesperson for RCGP told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We’d like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Lee Adams.

“The college has received the coroner’s report and will respond in due course. We are unable to comment further outside this formal coronial process.”

A separate Prevention of Future Deaths report was sent to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

A spokesperson for MHRA said: “We are saddened to hear of the case of Mr Adams. We offer sincere condolences to his family.

“Patient safety is our top priority. We take all Prevention of Future Deaths reports very seriously and will review the findings carefully before providing a response within 56 days.”