At iGB Live on Wednesday, Tim Miller, executive director of the Gambling Commission, addressed the financial risk assessment (FRA) pilot, which has revealed a group of players in arrears that current operator processes have overlooked. "We want to focus on those," Miller stated. He pointed out a significant "disconnect" between the regulator and the gambling industry regarding FRAs, amidst substantial resistance from the sector concerning this potential policy.
Initially labeled as "rebranded affordability checks" by some industry members, FRAs were first introduced in the white paper for the Gambling Act review. The Commission launched a pilot scheme in August 2024, involving several tier one operators. During this pilot, additional checks were triggered when a player's net monthly deposit reached £500 in an initial light touch check. A second phase set to start in February 2025 will lower this threshold to £150 or more.
By May 2025, the Gambling Commission reported that 97% of the checks conducted in the latter half of the pilot were seen as "frictionless."
However, due to strong opposition to the policy, the Commission delayed its decision on fully implementing these checks in May. Miller expressed concern that many have forgotten the policy's purpose outlined in the white paper, which is to focus on higher-spending customers exhibiting signs of financial distress. "Information unlocked by reference agencies has clarified financial distress without hindering the customer experience," he added. "If implemented properly, I think it will have the opposite effect."
Regarding the timeline for FRA implementation, Miller, who announced his departure from the Gambling Commission this week, could not provide a clear answer. He acknowledged that the regulator had faced criticism for both acting too quickly and for delays in policy rollout. "We’ve taken our time deliberately. Regulatory peers worldwide are very interested in our approach to this issue," Miller remarked.
Miller also criticized tech giants for their inadequate response to the increasing threat posed by the illegal market. He stated that these companies are "failing British consumers" by not sufficiently curbing black market sites and their advertising. He emphasized that combating the black market requires being as well-connected as the criminal networks involved in these operations, recognizing affiliates and B2B suppliers as significant parts of the issue. He urged operators to diligently vet their supplier and affiliate partners to ensure no connections to the black market. He acknowledged operators like Entain, mentioning Simon Zinger as "impressive" in their efforts against illegal gambling.
