A compulsive gambler who stole £340,000 ($432,000) from his employer repeatedly attempted to self‑exclude from Betfair but was instead treated as a VIP customer and allowed to lose more than £1 million ($1.27 million), according to newly disclosed court documents. During that period, he was offered complimentary hospitality at major sporting events while continuing to gamble heavily.
Betfair, owned by Flutter Entertainment, has confirmed it is reviewing whether to return profits linked to the stolen funds now that the criminal case has concluded.
Fraudster Received Suspended Sentence
Last Wednesday, former finance manager Andrew Morford received a two‑year suspended prison sentence after admitting to stealing from Co‑operative Development Services (CDS), a charitable housing organization, The Guardian reported.
Court filings show Morford diverted funds from CDS between May 2019 and February 2024.
Judge Silas Reid described Morford’s gambling addiction as a “very significant mitigating factor” in his decision to impose a lenient sentence.
Repeated Attempts at Self‑Exclusion Ignored or Circumvented
Morford’s history with Betfair stretches back nearly two decades:
- 2008: First permanent self‑exclusion request. Betfair complied, but Morford reopened an account under the name “Andy.”
- 2010: Self‑excluded again, reversed it in 2012, and lost £659,000 ($837,000) over the next five years.
- 2017: Betfair closed his account over “concerns about his betting,” yet he later opened a new account in his father’s name and lost hundreds of thousands more.
Despite multiple red flags, internal documents described the account as “low end of medium risk.”
Betfair also missed several opportunities to identify him:
- August 2022: Morford signed an email to his VIP manager using his real name.
- March 2023: He did it again. This time, staff checked the name and discovered his history of circumventing self‑exclusion.
Even after that discovery, Morford deposited over £550,000 ($699,000) and continued losing tens of thousands before Betfair finally suspended the account.
Calls for Divestment Grow
CDS and GamLearn, a nonprofit supporting gambling addicts who commit financial crimes, are urging Betfair to return the profits it made from Morford’s gambling activity.
A Betfair spokesperson told The Guardian:
“We have an established divestment process, to which this case will be subject now that criminal proceedings have completed.”
The company emphasized that Morford had impersonated his father during multiple interactions, including safer‑gambling checks, and provided documentation in his father’s name.
CDS Recovers Part of the Stolen Funds
CDS pursued a civil claim against Morford and recovered £575,000 ($730,000).
The repayment included:
- £100,000 ($127,000) from Morford’s pension
- His 50% stake in the family home, valued at £110,000 ($140,000)
