During his address at iGB Live on Wednesday, Tim Miller, the executive director of the Gambling Commission, highlighted significant findings from the regulator's financial risk assessment (FRA) pilot, revealing that some players in financial distress were not being identified by the operators' current systems. "We want to focus on those," he remarked, emphasizing a noticeable disconnect between the regulator and the industry regarding FRAs amidst strong opposition from the sector concerning the proposed policy.
Originally perceived by many in the industry as merely "rebranded affordability checks," FRAs were first suggested in the Gambling Act review white paper. The Gambling Commission initiated a pilot program in August 2024 involving several leading operators, which prompted additional checks when a player’s net monthly deposit exceeded £500 during the initial light touch assessment. A second phase, slated for February 2025, will adjust this threshold, lowering it to £150 or more.
In May 2025, the Gambling Commission revealed that approximately 97% of checks during the latter half of the pilot had been deemed "frictionless."
Miller addressed criticisms directed at the policy, noting a delay in the Commission's decision about fully implementing these checks in May. "I think a lot of people have forgotten the purpose of the policy in the white paper. It’s about being really focused upon higher-spending customers where there is evidence of financial distress," he stated. He pointed out that insights gained from reference agencies have offered a clearer understanding of financial distress without disrupting the customer experience. "I think it will do the opposite as long as they are implemented properly," Miller added.
When questioned about the timeline for FRAs' implementation, Miller, who announced his departure from the Gambling Commission earlier this week, acknowledged he did not have a definitive answer. He mentioned that the regulator faced criticism for acting either too quickly or too slowly regarding the policy: "We’ve taken our time deliberately. Regulatory peers around the world are very keen to see what we do on this."
Miller also addressed concerns regarding the illegal gambling market, criticizing technology companies for their insufficient response in combating the growing threat. He asserted that tech firms were "failing British consumers" by not moving swiftly enough to limit access to black market sites and their associated marketing strategies. Moreover, he emphasized the need for those combating the black market to be equally connected as the organized criminal networks responsible for these operations. Affiliates and B2B suppliers were identified as a "big part of the problem."
He reiterated that operators must conduct thorough due diligence on their suppliers and affiliate partners to ensure they are not linked to the black market. Miller acknowledged that certain operators are leading efforts against illegal activities, singling out Entain’s Simon Zinger as "impressive" for his contributions.
