The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has unveiled plans for a pilot scheme aimed at implementing enhanced financial risk checks. This move comes amidst mounting pressure for tighter regulations within the gambling industry.

UKGC’s Tim Miller Unveils Measures to Enhance Financial Risk Checks

UKGC’s executive director of research and policy, Tim Miller, outlined the steps being taken in response to feedback gathered from consultations regarding financial risk checks. These checks, as proposed by the government’s Gambling White Paper, aim to identify and intervene in cases where customers may be financially vulnerable due to their gambling habits.

The pilot scheme comprises two tiers of checks. The first tier focuses on identifying vulnerabilities such as bankruptcy orders or unpaid debts, utilizing publicly available data. Notably, feedback from the consultation has led to adjustments, ensuring that these checks will not delve into customers’ personal details like postcode or job title. Initially, these checks will be implemented at a higher threshold before transitioning to a lower threshold later in the year to streamline the process for consumers.

The second tier involves enhanced financial risk assessments triggered by significant losses, requiring more comprehensive scrutiny of a customer’s financial situation. 

Miller emphasized the UKGC’s commitment to making these checks as seamless as possible for the majority of customers.

UKGC’s Pilot Program Paves the Way for Safer Gambling Practices

The pilot, scheduled to last between four to six months, will serve as a testing ground for data-sharing mechanisms involving credit reference agencies and gambling operators. During this period, operators will not be mandated to act on the data received but must continue to uphold existing consumer safety measures.

Miller highlighted the importance of data collected during the pilot phase, which will inform the final thresholds and definitions for implementing these checks effectively. The UKGC intends to lay out detailed guidelines within its forthcoming response document.

In response to these developments, a spokesperson for the Betting and Gaming Council emphasized the need for swift yet unobtrusive interventions for those displaying signs of financial vulnerability. They stressed the importance of ensuring that responsible gamblers are not unduly affected and that any new measures do not inadvertently drive individuals towards unregulated gambling platforms.

Moreover, the government is expected to announce new regulations soon, including a maximum stake limit for online slots, aimed at curbing excessive gambling among young adults.

The UKGC’s pilot scheme marks a significant step forward in addressing concerns surrounding gambling-related harm, balancing consumer protection with the freedom to gamble responsibly.

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GambleAware, the leading commissioner of gambling harm prevention and treatment services in the UK, suggested that the broad public supports the controversial affordability checks. The measure, originally outlined in the Gambling Act white paper, seeks to introduce frictionless checks that would prevent at-risk players from overspending.

However, gambling industry campaigners have suggested that the checks would make gambling unsustainable for many players, potentially even hurting the horseracing sector. On the contrary, GambleAware suggested that the public actually supports the measure.

Citing recent polling, the charity suggested that three in five adults (57%) support enhanced financial risk checks. People impacted by a loved one’s gambling, on the other hand, were much more likely to support the measure, with data showing that 76% of affected others believe gambling companies should be held responsible for gambling problems.

In the meantime, 63% of respondents said that they believe that affordability checks would reduce the number of problem players.

For reference, the polling was conducted by Ipsos and saw the public opinion specialist survey 4,170 British adults.

GambleAwar Supports Frictionless Checks

GambleAware’s chief executive officer, Zoë Osmond, said that her team urges the government to not miss opportunities to introduce “robust preventive measures.” While GambleAware acknowledges that affordability checks should be frictionless and properly implemented, it also believes that they are a necessary measure.

By prioritizing preventative action and ensuring the industry take some responsibility for protecting individuals against unaffordable losses, we can mitigate the detrimental impact of problem gambling on individuals and society as a whole.

Zoë Osmond, CEO, GambleAware

Nicola Jaques, family support worker for the Beacon Counselling Trust in Preston, and an affected other of gambling harms, also commented on the matter, highlighting the devastating effects gambling harm could have on families. 

Safeguards like these financial risk checks are so important because they would help protect not only the person experiencing problems with gambling, but also those around them. Anyone can experience gambling harm and it affects far more than just one person.

Nicola Jaques, family support worker, Beacon Counselling Trust

GambleAware is the organization behind the United Kingdom’s National Gambling Support Network (NGSN). The charity recently reported that the helpline received over 52,000 calls in 2023 – a figure representing a year-on-year rise of 24%.

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The Betting and Gaming Council has urged the British government to “honor its commitments” on frictionless financial risk checks. This follows a recent announcement that the Petitions Committee will discuss the issue.

In 2023, Nevin Truesdale, CEO of the Jockey Club, launched a petition against the affordability checks, arguing that they are discriminatory and harmful. According to him, the measure would make betting unsustainable for many people, forcing them to go to the black market.

Truesdale’s petition eventually surpassed its target goal of 100,000 signatures. As a result, the Petitions Committee confirmed that a debate will be held on February 26.

In the wake of this announcement, the BGC praised Truesdale’s petition. The council reiterated its support for “frictionless, enhanced spending checks online.” According to the body, such measures must target people who exhibit signs of harm, allowing swift intervention.

However, the council also agrees that this measure must be truly frictionless and must not interfere with the vast majority of gamblers who play safely and responsibly.

Dugher Praised Truesdale’s Initiative

Michael Dugher, the BGC’s chief executive officer, weighed in on the matter, saying that the Parliament must honor its commitment to make the checks truly frictionless.

At the BGC we supported enhanced checks for online gambling, but have been clear throughout that checks should be carefully targeted on those showing signs of problem gambling, or those who are at risk of harm, so operators can use technology to take swift action.

Michael Dugher, CEO, BGC

Dugher pointed out that a vast majority of punters in the UK have made it clear that they will not submit to intrusive checks. Since many players play safely and responsibly, the government must be careful not to drive them to the unregulated black market, the BGC CEO said. Dugher added that his team is closely working with the UK Gambling Commission to make sure that there would be a proper pilot before a permanent change is introduced.

In the meantime, Dugher congratulated Nevin Truesdale for helping to secure an “important parliamentary debate.”

Nevin Truesdale and his team have injected a much-needed dose of common sense. Too often, the debate around gambling has been dominated by a handful of out-of-touch anti-gambling prohibitionists whose enthusiasm for draconian changes would wreck great British sports like racing.

Michael Dugher, CEO, BGC

The BGC CEO added that blanket measures would endanger the British gambling sector. This sector, he reminded, contributes £7.1 billion (roughly $9 million) to the economy a year, generates £4.2 billion ($5.3 billion) in tax and supports some 110,000 jobs.

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A new petition in the UK seeks to oppose the government’s planned implementation of financial checks. The controversial measure, outlined in the white paper, would see the government conduct affordability assessments on people who lose certain sums of money to gambling.

The proposed measure would force operators to conduct checks on anyone who loses more than £125 in a month or £500 in a year. This measure does not sit well with many British citizens who believe that the checks would intrude on their privacy, disrupting their hobby.

A petition that was just launched on petitions.parliament.uk seeks to stop this measure. Created by Nevin Truesdale, the petition seeks to show the government that people are not happy with its plans.

We want the Government to abandon the planned implementation of affordability checks for some people who want to place a bet.

Petition description

As calculated by the petition creator, the measure means that bettors will have to prove they can afford their hobby if they sustain losses as low as £1.37 per day. While the petition acknowledged the need to combat problem gambling, it describes the current form of the planned checks as “inappropriate and discriminatory.”

The petition also warned that the checks might have a devastating effect on British horseracing’s finances caused by a reduction in turnover.

The Government Claims the Checks Will Be “Frictionless”

At 10,000 signatures, the government will respond to the petition. At 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament. For reference, the petition has 41,330 signatures as of the time of this writing.

The petition is set to run for six months, with a deadline of May 1.

In the meantime, the government continues its efforts to convince bettors that the affordability checks envisioned in the measure would be frictionless and will not cause trouble for the majority of British gamblers. Andrew Rhodes from the UKGC has been increasingly vocal in his disgruntlement toward the “deliberate efforts” to misinform the populace.

However, gambling harm experts believe that the checks may channel many more players toward the unregulated market and end up having an adverse effect.

Amid this controversy, The British Horseracing Authority, Racing TV, At The Races and the Racing Post had conducted a public survey on the measures, collecting responses from bettors.

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Initiated by the BC Lottery Corporation, this is a significant step up in the efforts to ensure that consumers are protected. Moving forward, the only way to enter casinos in the province would be by providing a government-issued identification. This way, the onus would be on land-based properties to ensure that people who enter are not self-excluded or under the legal gambling age.

Using Automated ID Checks to Keep Consumers Safe

The measure is expected to be officially introduced this summer, and more details will be forthcoming as the final implementation date is being debated but will be here before August in all likelihood. Casinos will have to do some catching up to do as they would have to ensure that they have the necessary software to check against a database of self-excluded players in the province.

All IDs will be scanned by security staff prior to admission to casino properties with the system automatically referencing a patron’s identity against the Game Break self-exclusion program. Although some concerns about privacy have been raised, the system does not store any personal data to speak of, so consumers will be able to pass this check without any concern.

According to the regulator, this is a way towards paving the way for an industry that has the healthiest players in the world, and the quick and reliable verification against the self-exclusion program is a great way to achieve this. These automated ID scans are also the best way to ensure that no underage or self-excluded individual would be able to enter the premises of a casino.

Building the World’s Healthiest Player Base

IDs in casinos in British Columbia have always been required, as they are needed to verify identity when claiming winnings or withdrawing jackpots. Regardless, the new system is expected to improve who gets on the casino floor and still be unobtrusive enough for consumers to not be turned away or scared by identity checks.

Game Break is not without its potential faults and exploits, however. Similar self-exclusion programs have been abused in the past. GAMSTOP in the United Kingdom, for example, could be tinkered with if a person would re-enter information about themselves, thus confusing self-exclusion algorithms and fooling automated checks.

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