According to a new study by GambleAware, more than 50% of UK adults support an introduction of financial and affordability checks for gambling.
Ipsos surveyed 4 170 people between the ages of 18 and 75, in collaboration with GambleAware. The goal was to gauge public opinion about affordability checks. The government white paper published last April included several other proposals, including these checks.
Players who have lost more than PS1,000 in 24 hours or PS2,000 within 90 days would also be checked. The operators would perform passive checks for players who have a monthly net loss exceeding PS125 or PS500.
Arguments for and against the proposal have been heard in industry. GambleAware, which has stated its support for these checks, has published new research that suggests the public is also in favor.
Sixty-one percent of those who responded to the survey would be in favor of “light touch” checks for financial vulnerabilities that could identify clients at risk. Some 57% of respondents also supported “enhanced checks” to be performed at high levels of loss where risks are higher.
The checks are more likely to be reacted against by those with gambling problems. This group supports enhanced checks by 58% and light touch checks by 54%. Most adults also expect that operators will take action or contact the consumer if they fail these checks.
GambleAware CEO is required to take proactive measures
GambleAware’s CEO Zoe Osmond stated: “As the demand for treatment and support services continues to grow, we urge the government not to miss any opportunities to implement robust prevention measures in order to combat this growing issue of public health.”
It is imperative to take proactive measures in order to tackle the causes of harm caused by gambling. It is important to have comprehensive educational programmes, awareness campaigns and stronger regulation in order to protect the most vulnerable. There should also be sufficient funding available for support and treatment services.
By prioritising prevention and making sure the industry takes some responsibility to protect individuals from unaffordable loss, we can reduce the negative impact of gambling problem on both individuals and the society at large.
There is still uncertainty over the apparent support for check-outs
The study did, however, highlight an element of unreliability in the checks proposed. Some are sceptical and concerned about the effectiveness and privacy of these checks. Others say they may be viewed as an intrusion on privacy. Some people are concerned that these checks will be abused.
Uncertainty also exists about the loss threshold that should be used for these checks. About two-thirds of adults are unsure about the amount that should trigger financial checks. This is regardless of the time frame in which they will be conducted.
Only a few adults, who have gambled in the last 12 months, say that they will be affected by these checks. Just 10% of adults said that light-touch checks would be applicable to them. This drops to just 5% when it comes to enhanced checks.
A third of people who have gambled online in the past 12 months also said that they don’t gamble online. The new online checks will not flag their gambling.
The wider concerns
The concerns raised in this article are similar to those that were highlighted by iGB’s special report last month.
Some of the concerns raised by opponents to the plan include the fact that the loss limits proposed are unrealistic. Many have pointed out that the amount of losses is minimal and would be unfair to check them.
Some people are concerned about the mass checking of major sporting events. Many people say that it’s unrealistic to expect bookmakers to carry out in-depth inspections when there are so many active bettors.
Some parties also expressed concern that these checks might push players towards unlicensed websites. These websites, which are unregulated, are exempt from checks. This means that players are free to continue gambling without being subjected to any checks. These same websites do not provide the same level of protection that licensed operators offer.
The proposed affordability check is still being discussed.
