Gambling Commission Confirms Affordability Checks Will Not Launch in May

_{Gambling Commission will set out revised implementation plans in coming months. (Image: Alan Evans/Casinos.com)}

The Gambling Commission has confirmed that new financial risk assessments for online gamblers will not come into force in May 2026, as pressure mounts from the racing and betting industries over concerns that the checks will drive punters toward unregulated gambling sites.

The assessments, formally known as Financial Risk Assessments, were proposed by the former Conservative government in 2023 and would be triggered when a customer loses £2,000 over three months. The Commission that regulates land-based and online casinos said any introduction would happen 'in a careful and managed manner', without specifying a revised timetable. Labour has previously pledged that the checks can only be introduced when they are genuinely frictionless for consumers.

The confirmation follows a coordinated intervention from senior figures in horseracing and the betting industry, who argue the current proposals fall well short of that standard and risk pushing hundreds of thousands of customers toward illegal gambling operators.

Industry Figures Warn of Black Market Risk

William Haggas, who trains racehorses for King Charles and trained for the late Queen Elizabeth II, called on ministers to instruct the Gambling Commission to reconsider the proposals. 

'Horseracing and betting have a historic and symbiotic relationship,' Haggas said. 'Anything that interferes with that will only damage horseracing, cost jobs and deprive the Government of much-needed tax revenue.'

Brant Dunshea, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said the timing of any additional regulatory burden warranted careful consideration given recent tax and regulatory changes affecting the sector. '

Without a better solution the illegal market will only grow, causing more harm, depriving the Government of tens of millions of pounds in lost tax revenue, and sparking widespread job losses across Britain,' he said.

The Betting and Gaming Council estimates that as many as 300,000 racing fans could be caught by the checks, with around 120,000 required to submit documents such as bank statements or payslips. The BGC says its research suggests approximately 80% of those asked for documents would refuse to provide them, with two-thirds of that group potentially moving to unlicensed sites.

Frictionless Pledge Under Scrutiny

Grainne Hurst of the Betting and Gaming Council said the proposals as currently designed contradict commitments made by ministers. 

'Ministers promised punters frictionless checks, but the Gambling Commission risks pushing ahead with the exact opposite,' she said. 

'Forcing punters to hand over bank statements isn't frictionless, it's intrusive and will drive many straight to the illegal market, where there are no safeguards at all.'

The industry has also raised concerns about the reliability of data from credit reference agencies, warning that inconsistencies could mean twice as many customers than intended are required to submit documents. Bookmakers say some customers could be flagged for minor issues such as a missed phone payment or a late utility bill.

A Gambling Commission spokesperson said the assessments are designed to identify and support customers in current financial difficulty, and that reducing friction for consumers remains a central priority. The regulator did not confirm when the checks would be introduced.

A 2023 government impact assessment estimated the checks could reduce bookmaker revenues by £700 million, with a potential loss to the Treasury of more than £200 million in tax. The betting industry has warned the actual figure could be higher if significant numbers of customers migrate to unregulated platforms.

The debate over affordability checks is likely to intensify as the Commission sets out its revised implementation plans in the coming months.