UKGC chief counters criticism of financial risk checks, confirms players won’t need to provide additional documents

(AsiaGameHub) –   The UK Gambling Commission has stood by its financial risk checks initiative and reassured the industry that high-spending gamblers won’t need to submit detailed financial records as part of the programme.

This follows a pilot study indicating that financial risk assessments (FRAs) would only affect a small minority of consumers and could be largely hassle-free.

During a keynote speech at the Ethical Gambling Forum in London on Tuesday, UKGC Executive Director Tim Miller clarified the Commission’s interpretation of the guidelines outlined in the 2023 Gambling Act Review white paper.

Miller aimed to address recent pushback on FRAs from parliamentarians and sector stakeholders, stressing that the process is designed to protect vulnerable consumers without imposing intrusive or blanket measures.

No financial documents needed post-FRA

Crucially, Miller maintained that operators won’t be required to request supplementary financial documents like bank statements after an FRA.

He also stated: “the checks we have been piloting will not even attempt to make an assessment of what each customer can afford to gamble”.

Miller acknowledged that requests for financial documents have been among the most controversial aspects of recent regulatory proposals. Critics argue such requests are intrusive and disproportionate.

One such critic was the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), where CEO Grainne Hurst previously commented on the scheme: “Forcing punters to hand over bank statements isn’t ‘frictionless’, it’s intrusive and will drive customers to the illegal market, where there are no safeguards at all.”

According to a YouGov survey published by the BGC, 65% of UK bettors would refuse to provide personal financial documents if it were a requirement to continue betting.

Are these rebranded affordability checks?

The pilot launched in August 2024 amid industry claims it was a rebrand of the heavily scrutinised affordability checks. In stage one, checks were triggered when a player’s net monthly deposit reached £500. Tier one UK operators participated, and the checks could also prompt the use of credit reference agencies to assess a player’s financial history.

A second phase starting in February 2025 lowered the net deposit threshold to £150 or above.

The Commission had previously stressed the checks were not intended as spending limits or “affordability checks” in the conventional sense.

Miller highlighted the financial vulnerability of the pilot cohort, noting they were two to five times more likely than average customers to have defaulted on debts or enrolled in debt management plans in the past year.

He told the audience that less than 3% of active customers would trigger intervention steps under the new pilot, while 97% would undergo a frictionless assessment without disruption.

This figure exceeds the originally forecasted 80% from the white paper. In response to the pilot, Commission Director of Major Policy Projects Helen Rhodes said it “helped us understand the extent that assessments could be conducted in a frictionless manner.”

The pilot suggested only 0.1% of active accounts—around one in a thousand—would need additional support to complete the assessment, a markedly lower figure than the initial 0.6% estimated in the white paper.

Upcoming clear guidance

Responding to these concerns, Miller stated the Commission intends to recommend clear guidance preventing operators from seeking extra documentation post-FRA, describing such requests as lacking “a legitimate regulatory purpose.”

The Gambling Commission board has yet to decide on implementing the checks following the pilot. Miller indicated any decision will be evidence-based and contingent on ongoing government support.

Should the board approve, a joint implementation group will be established with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), operators, and credit reference agencies to develop a practical rollout plan and proportionate operational guidance.

Combating illegal gambling

Beyond FRAs, Miller outlined recent enforcement actions targeting illegal gambling sites. Between 2025 and 2026, the Commission issued 741 cease-and-desist notices, reported nearly 398,000 illegal URLs to search engines (with about 267,000 removed), referred 1,068 websites for delisting, and disrupted 1,134 sites via takedown or geo-blocking measures.

With an additional £26 million in funding from the Treasury over three years, the Commission plans to intensify efforts alongside a government-established illegal gambling task force.

“One of the areas that my own subgroup is working on at the moment is the publication of a national risk assessment on the illegal market to help ensure that we are all focussed on the main risks that might arise,” Miller told the audience.

A summer 2026 consultation response is also expected on gaming machine compliance and operator obligations to remove non-compliant machines from July 29, 2026.

Miller emphasised collaboration, expressing openness to credible industry proposals aligned with licensing objectives. He affirmed the UK’s licensed gambling sector remains commercially successful and must continue balancing innovation with responsible consumer protection.

“Now is a moment where we need to also look at what we can do to help keep the consumer experience positive and competitive, especially when viewed against the illegal market.”