Online gamblers in the UK who spend more than £1,000 within a 24-hour period will soon be subject to financial risk assessments, the Gambling Commission has announced. This new measure, which will also apply to those betting over £3,000 in a rolling 90-day window, aims to identify and support individuals who may be experiencing financial difficulties due to their gambling habits. Younger players, specifically those under 25, will face lower thresholds for these checks.
The assessments will draw upon data held by credit reference agencies, but the regulator has stressed that these are not the more extensive 'affordability checks' that have previously proven unpopular with gamblers. According to the Commission, evidence suggests that some high-spending customers are currently struggling financially without being identified or offered support by gambling operators. For example, high-spending gamblers are between two and four times more likely to have a debt management plan, and between two and five times more likely to have a default in the past year, compared to the general population.
The implementation of these new checks will be a gradual process, starting with an initial phase this summer. This will first target over-25s who gamble more than £5,000 in a 24-hour period, and will initially be rolled out to the largest gambling companies. The Gambling Commission anticipates that this initial stage will affect less than 0.5% of all customers. The threshold will eventually be lowered to £1,000 in 24 hours, or £750 for those under 25.
Sarah Gardner, acting chief executive of the Gambling Commission, stated that the vast majority of customers would never need an assessment. For those who do, she assured that the process would be 'frictionless' and 'document-free', provided by credit reference agencies without impacting credit scores. She expressed confidence that this approach would effectively support high-spending customers in financial distress while minimising inconvenience for others.
However, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents gambling firms, has voiced its 'disappointment and frustration' with the new regulations. The BGC argues that these changes could inadvertently push customers towards unregulated black market operators. Grainne Hurst, chief executive of the BGC, highlighted unresolved concerns regarding the reliability, consumer impact, and practical operation of these checks, stating that the Commission has not provided sufficient accurate data to support them.
The introduction of these enhanced checks follows recommendations from a 2023 white paper on gambling, which called for greater scrutiny of customers experiencing significant losses. Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has also commented, emphasising that any assessments must be effective for 'consumers, gambling operators and the wider ecosystem'.