Oliver Long: Prevention of Future Deaths Report
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Date of report: 14/01/2026
Ref: 2026-0021
Deceased name: Oliver Long
Coroner name: Laura Bradford
Coroner Area: East Sussex
Category: Suicide (from 2015)
This report is being sent to: Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport | Department for Health and Social Care | Department for Education |The Gambling Commission
| REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS | |
|---|---|
| THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 1 Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 2 Department for Health and Social Care 3 Department for Education 4 The Gambling Commission | |
| 1 | CORONER I am Laura BRADFORD, Senior Coroner for the coroner area of East Sussex Coroners Service |
| 2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. |
| 3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 27 February 2024, I commenced an investigation into the death of Oliver Anderson Long, aged 36. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13 January 2026 and I recorded a conclusion of suicide. The family requested me to refer to the deceased as Ollie. I will reflect that in this report. |
| 4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH Ollie had a history of anxiety, depression, long-term cannabis use and a gambling disorder. He had self-excluded from online gambling with operators licensed in Great Britain by way of multi-operator self-exclusion schemes. The evidence suggests, however, that Ollie was later able to access unlicensed gambling providers, where he continued to gamble heavily leading up to his death. On 20 February 2024, Ollie was reported missing after his family found a note suggesting that he was intending to jump from a cliff. A police investigation followed and identified that Ollie had travelled to East Sussex where he had booked accommodation and left several notes there indicating his intention to take his own life from cliffs in East Sussex. On the afternoon of 23 February 2024, a member of the public called police after finding a body and death was formally confirmed at 17:33. The body was subsequently identified as Ollie. |
| 5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: (brief summary of matters of concern) I heard evidence from Ollie’s family and the Gambling Commission in respect of the efficacy of the UK self-exclusion scheme, GamStop, which allows customers to bar themselves from all forms of legal and licenced online betting. This scheme, however, does not capture overseas unlicenced sites and people who have self-excluded (as Ollie did) may be able to access these sites or are being deliberately targeted by them. Additionally, I heard evidence that consumers may not be aware that they have accessed an unlicenced site and in doing so have moved outside of the realm of the regulated area. Consumers are unlikely to check that a site is licenced prior to accessing it, particularly if the advert for the site is in a trusted space, such as on social media. The result is that people who are at risk of gambling-related harm in accessing these sites are not protected by features such as limit setting and slowing down of gains, and they may not be aware that these features are unlikely to be present on the site they are using. There is, in my view, a lack of adequate public health information and warning relating to the risks posed by unlicenced gambling sites. |
| 6 | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action. |
| 7 | YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 11 March 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise, you must explain why no action is proposed. |
| 8 | COPIES and PUBLICATION I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to Ollie’s family, via their legal representative. I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. I may also send a copy of your response to any person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. She may send a copy of this report to any person who she believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. |
| 9 | Dated: 14/01/2026 Laura BRADFORD Senior Coroner for East Sussex Coroners Service |