Paying the Price of a Bad Betting Habit

Two million pounds lost in gambling, not to mention a wife and general health, have brought this gambler to take action - legal action against his bookmaker.

Graham Calvert, 28, of Tyne and Wear in North East England, who has gambled compulsively and accumulated £2 million of losses, wants his bookmaker William Hill to pay him damages.

The bookmaker's policy is to exclude and not accept bets from problem gamblers. Calvert's lawyers believe their client falls under the category, and that the bookmaker has thus failed to operate by its own policy.

Generally speaking, problem gamblers of Calvert's scope are less than one percent of the gambling population. This seems to strengthen his claim that he should have been singled out. His lawyer, Anneliese Day, further accuses William Hill of manipulating her client and profiting from his gambling disorder.

The case, if won of course, will establish for the first time that bookies owe a duty of care in such circumstances.

Then again, Calvert is an adult of full capacity. This has been the case even when he had lost £347,000 in a single bet on the US team who he thought would win the 2006 Ryder Cup.

It is needless to say that his losses and their personal consequences are tremendous. Would this change bookmakers' policy, or even the law? Understandably, William Hill will fight the case. But surely it is also in its interest to protect its clients.