The Gambling Commission has unveiled plans to roll out Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) in phases, aimed at customers who exhibit problematic spending behavior. The initiative targets players whose net deposits exceed £5,000 within a 24-hour timeframe, with only 0.5% of UK customers surpassing this threshold.
The first stage will focus on large operators and high spenders. For customers aged under 25, the threshold for the initial phase is set at £2,500 within 24 hours. Ultimately, once the FRAs are fully operational, players aged 25 and older will trigger an assessment with net deposits exceeding £1,000 in a day or £3,000 over 90 days. For those under 25, the thresholds will be £750 in a day or £2,000 within 90 days.
This approach marks a modification from the original proposal in the 2023 white paper, which suggested a loss limit of £2,000 over 90 days.
The Gambling Commission intends to finalize this phased rollout timetable after consulting with industry stakeholders. Implementation groups will form this summer to refine criteria and develop guidance. Despite industry pushback regarding potential disruption to the player experience, the commission reiterated that the assessments aim to be "frictionless" and will not impact customers' credit ratings.
A pilot conducted from August 2025 to early this year indicated that 97% of customers exceeding the spend limits could be assessed using data from credit reference agencies, surpassing the previous estimate of 80%. During this pilot, additional checks were initiated when net monthly deposits reached £500, with a second phase in February 2025 lowering the threshold to £150 or more.
A grace period will ensure that no enforcement actions are taken against operators who do not comply immediately following FRA outcomes during the initial implementation period.
Research highlighted by the Commission indicated that high-spending customers are significantly more likely to experience financial difficulties. These individuals are estimated to be two to four times more likely to have a debt management plan, and two to five times more likely to have defaulted on credit in the past year, compared to the general population.
With less than 3% of accounts expected to face assessment under the FRAs, fewer than one in a thousand are predicted to require further verification methods, such as identity checks or open banking data.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) expressed its disappointment with the announcement, stating frustration over the decision to proceed despite substantial concerns raised during the prior 18 months. CEO Grainne Hurst referred to inconsistencies from credit reference agencies during the pilot, which could lead to misidentifying customers as financially vulnerable based on unreliable data. She noted that a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot has not yet been released, leaving the industry without necessary evidence to justify these changes.
The risk assessment proposal has faced significant scrutiny since its introduction in the 2023 white paper. In May, a group of cross-party Members of Parliament urged the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to abandon the initiative, arguing it could disrupt the relationship between the horseracing and betting sectors.
Tim Miller, executive director at the Gambling Commission, highlighted the criticism the regulator has faced for both the speed and pace of policy development.
The approach has found some support within the industry. Sarah Gardner, acting chief executive of the Gambling Commission, described the new FRA strategy as cautious yet assured, aiming to support at-risk customers while minimizing inconvenience for those not facing financial issues.
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross praised the gradual implementation approach, emphasizing the importance of effective rollout going forward.
