At iGB Live on Wednesday, Tim Miller, the executive director of the Gambling Commission, addressed concerns regarding the regulator's financial risk assessment (FRA) pilot. He emphasized that the pilot had identified a significant number of players facing financial difficulties that were overlooked by current operator processes. "We want to focus on those," he stated.
Miller pointed out a noticeable "disconnect" between the regulator and the industry concerning FRAs, particularly after the sector expressed considerable resistance to the proposed policy. Initially referred to by some operators as "rebranded affordability checks," FRAs were introduced in the Gambling Act review white paper. The Commission began a pilot scheme in August 2024, which included participation from several tier one operators. The pilot implemented additional checks for players whose net monthly deposits reached £500, while a second phase set to begin in February 2025 will lower this threshold to £150.
In a report from May 2025, the Gambling Commission indicated that an overwhelming majority of checks—97% during the latter half of the pilot—had been deemed "frictionless."
However, strong criticism against the policy led the Commission to postpone its decision about fully implementing the 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," Miller noted. He highlighted that insights from reference agencies have clarified instances of financial distress without compromising customer experience. "I think it will do the opposite as long as they are implemented properly," he added.
When questioned about the timeline for FRA implementation, Miller, who announced his resignation from the Gambling Commission this week, stated he could not provide specifics. He acknowledged that the regulator has faced criticism both for acting too hastily and for delays in policy development. "We’ve taken our time deliberately. Regulatory peers around the world are very keen to see what we do on this," he said.
Miller also criticized tech giants for their inadequate response to the rising threat of illegal gambling markets, saying they are "failing British consumers" by not doing enough to curtail black market sites and their advertising activities. He stressed the need for those combating the black market to develop connections comparable to the criminal networks behind these operations. Affiliates and B2B suppliers were identified as significant contributors to the issue. Once again, operators were urged to conduct thorough due diligence on their suppliers and affiliates to ensure they are not connected to the black market. He commended some operators for their proactive measures against illegal activities, particularly mentioning Entain's Simon Zinger as "impressive."
