At the beginning of April, Government sources confirmed that local lawmakers are likely to propose affordability checks for vulnerable gamblers who bet online as part of the long-awaited overhaul of the country’s gambling laws. Days later, the UK gambling regulator confirmed it would launch a consultation on the proposed affordability checks for the industry.
Although the measure has been considered as part of the UK Government’s efforts to provide better protection to problem gamblers, not everyone was glad to learn that.
According to Government sources, the proposed affordability checks would not apply to in-person petting in bookmakers’ high-street outlets or at local racecourses but only to online gambling in order to guarantee safety to vulnerable punters.
The long-awaited white paper of the UK Government as a result of lawmakers’ review into the gambling sector is expected to be unveiled by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the next few weeks. Local lawmakers are now widely expected to come up with a bunch of stricter legislative measures for the gambling industry, such as a new statutory levy for the sector and some restrictions that are aimed at protecting the most vulnerable customers.
As Casino Guardian previously reported, a new system of industry-wide affordability checks aimed at making sure that gamblers can afford the losses they generate online has been among the most far-reaching proposal. The so-called affordability checks would also be aimed at proving where the customers’ money comes from in case they continue to fund massive losses while betting online.
Carolyn Harris, a Labour MP and a long-time anti-gambling advocate, has proposed the implementation of affordability checks for everyone who loses £100 and more online on a monthly basis. Ms Harris has promised that the measure would not affect the vast majority of gamblers, because there were many losses that fall under the £100 watershed. According to the most recent reports, the affordability checks limit is expected to be way higher than £100, as this limit was deemed too low, especially considering the fact that many Brits lose thousands of pounds while gambling online.
British Gamblers Come Up with Negative Reactions to Proposed Affordability Checks
The gambling industry has not been much head over heels with the measure, with some operators’ executives already raising the alarm over the intrusive checks, which, according to them, would only encourage punters to turn to the unregulated black online market.
The negative reaction of UK gambling operators is understandable, but another concern also occurred, as there have been reports that customers are taking the proposal in an equally negative manner as the sector. According to reports, the vast majority of British punters who gamble online could refuse to share their personal information and financial documentation with gambling firms.
Reportedly, British punters have noted increasing difficulties with affordability checks, saying they have been too harsh and intrusive in some cases. The constantly tightening stricter stance of the Government has already forced various gambling operators to close some of their consumers’ accounts, which has led to frustration that is likely to reduce the interest in racing, as well as the financial support it receives from sports betting operators.
Some users of The Gambling Community Forum have criticised the proposed measure, with one of them predicting that the restrictions could make the gambling industry collapse.
Some users say that British lawmakers would not be able to enforce stricter affordability checks on local bookmakers, while others have shared that the proposed monthly spending limit of £100 before the application of special checks is simply too low. Others have noted that if such restrictions are imposed on the online gambling sector, similar ones should apply to the products of the National Lottery because there are many people who spend over £100 a month on scratch cards and lottery tickets. According to a user of The Gambling Community Forum, the changes should be applied across all verticals of the gambling industry so that all operators and customers of gambling firms are treated equally.
At the time when rumours about the stricter rules in the gambling industry first spread, many customers were not even sure what games would be involved in the proposed affordability checks. Many gambling forum users have warned that the restrictions could be bad not only for the sector but for customers, as well, although some agreed that choosing a reasonable benchmark would be crucial.
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