Oliver Long, a 36-year-old Liverpool fan, died by suicide after being drawn into illegal gambling websites that bypassed UK safeguards. His sister testified that these platforms were deliberately designed to exploit vulnerable users, leading him to lose over £20,000 in a single month.

Long had previously sought help through GamStop, a self-exclusion scheme meant to block access to regulated betting sites. However, unlicensed offshore operators continued targeting him. These sites, part of the "Not on GamStop" phenomenon, operate outside UK oversight and often use predatory tactics to reel in users.

His family described how the addiction cost him his job, home, and relationship. Authorities are now under pressure to clamp down on rogue operators. Experts warn these unregulated platforms often employ highly addictive mechanisms and are frequently linked to organized crime, making user protection increasingly difficult.

The case has sparked renewed calls for stricter enforcement against offshore gambling sites. Advocates say more must be done to shield vulnerable individuals from exploitative betting systems that prey on existing addictions.