Man Sues Casino; Should Sue Self

Suing your high-street burger chain for getting fat; suing your cigarette brand for getting ill; and now suing your local bookmaker for letting you bet too much. Where does it all end?

Graham Calvert a compulsive gambler from the UK is filing damages against William Hill to the value of 2 million pounds for money he lost while betting. He's also claiming further damages as he claims he has also lost his health, his wife and his livelihood.

The court case will define the path of who should bear responsibility in cases where the gambling habit gets out of control; the gambler himself or the gambling operator.

The bookmaker claims it shouldn't be held responsible for any of Calvert's losses incurred through gambling.

Calvert though, a greyhound trainer from near Sunderland, says that he asked William Hill to disallow him the ability to bet any more in a self-exclusion scheme they run.

With all sympathy, and as a person involved in gambling and familiar with wins and losses first hand, this is fishy by all accounts. Who should be held responsible here. While I incline to say the player, I imagine myself in his shoes and stop short of saying so. Fortunately, it is not my call, but rather the court has to decide.

You too can have your say on the matter and are invited to voice it at the comments below.