The Gambling Commission has revealed a phased approach for implementing Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) aimed at customers with concerning spending habits. This initiative will flag players whose net deposits exceed £5,000 within a rolling 24-hour window, triggering credit checks. According to the Commission, only 0.5% of customers in the UK surpass this threshold.
The initial rollout will focus on the largest operators and those demonstrating the most extreme spending patterns. For younger consumers and other identified high-risk groups, the threshold is set at £2,500 in any 24-hour period.
Once fully enacted, FRAs will activate for players over 25 years old if their net deposits cross £1,000 in a single day or £3,000 over 90 days. For those under 25, the triggers will be at £750 for 24-hour deposits and £2,000 for the 90-day rolling period.
These figures differ from earlier proposals in the 2023 white paper, which suggested a loss threshold of £2,000 over 90 days.
The Gambling Commission plans to finalize the timetable for stage one following consultations with industry stakeholders. Working groups will be established this summer to refine the assessment criteria and develop guidance for implementation.
After facing considerable resistance from the affected sector, where many voiced worries about potential complications in the betting process, the regulator reiterated that checks would be designed to be "frictionless" and would not impact customer credit scores.
Results from the FRA pilot, which ran from August 2025 and concluded earlier this year, indicated that 97% of customers exceeding set spending limits could be evaluated using Credit Reference Agency data, exceeding an earlier estimate of 80%. During the pilot, additional affordability checks were initiated once a player's monthly net deposit reached £500. A second phase beginning in February 2025 will adjust this threshold to deposits of £150 or more.
Initially, there will be a grace period to avoid imposing penalties on operators who do not respond to an FRA result in the early days of the new protocol.
Evidence highlighted by the Gambling Commission suggests that high-spending customers are significantly more likely to encounter financial difficulties. Customers in this category reportedly are two to four times more inclined to have a debt management plan and between two and five times more likely to have faced a credit default in the past year when compared to the general population.
Overall, it is estimated that under full implementation, fewer than 3% of accounts will undergo assessments, with only about one in 1,000 potentially needing further verification steps such as identity checks or open banking information.
In response, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) expressed disappointment with the Commission’s decision to proceed, voicing frustration over the ongoing concerns raised throughout the last 18 months by the BGC, operators, and other stakeholders.
Grainne Hurst, the BGC's chief executive, noted delays in the pilot and questioned if the process would remain frictionless. "The pilot revealed inconsistencies in credit reference agency data, which could wrongly label customers as financially vulnerable without solid evidence," she stated, adding that a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot has yet to be published, leaving both the industry and public without essential data to justify these checks.
The topic has garnered attention since its introduction in the 2023 white paper, drawing earlier discontent from the BGC along with an open letter from cross-party MPs urging Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to halt the initiative. Concerns emphasized the potential disruption to the relationship between the horseracing sector and betting at a time of economic struggle.
Tim Miller, executive director of the Gambling Commission, acknowledged the mixed criticism they have received regarding the pace of policy implementation. "We have taken our time deliberately. Regulatory peers globally want to observe our approach," Miller remarked.
Sarah Gardner, acting chief executive of the Gambling Commission, described the FRA strategy as both cautious and confident. "We believe our approach, which relies on quality data, will assist high-spending customers experiencing financial strain, while simultaneously minimizing friction for those customers who are not financially burdened by eliminating unnecessary document checks."
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross remarked on the measured rollout of these financial risk assessments, urging a focus on effective implementation moving forward.
