MPs Call on Government to Halt Gambling Affordability Checks Rollout
Published on by Becky M.
British racing’s battle against affordability checks has ramped up again, with 19 MPs representing racecourses across the UK urging culture secretary Lisa Nandy to step in and halt the Gambling Commission’s planned rollout of the controversial measures.
In an open letter sent to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the cross-party group warned that the proposed financial risk assessments, better known to punters as affordability checks, could cause “lasting damage” to the sport and push more bettors towards the black market.
Concerns Over “Frictionless” Checks
The MPs argue the policy has not received enough parliamentary scrutiny and claim there has been a worrying lack of transparency surrounding the Gambling Commission’s pilot scheme.
According to the letter, early testing involving credit reference agencies has shown the checks are far from the “frictionless” process ministers previously promised.
The Gambling Commission has repeatedly said the checks are designed to identify financially vulnerable customers without disrupting the vast majority of bettors. Critics within racing, however, argue that the practical reality could look very different once the system is fully rolled out.
This follows growing industry concern around how affordability checks may affect ordinary recreational betting activity rather than solely targeting high-risk gambling behaviour.
Racing Industry Warns of Financial Damage
British racing bodies fear the impact could be severe.
Industry estimates suggest the checks could cost horse racing as much as £250 million over the next five years through reduced betting turnover. The MPs also highlighted racing’s wider economic contribution, noting the sport generates more than £4 billion annually and supports around 85,000 jobs across the UK.
The intervention comes just days before a Gambling Commission board meeting where approval for the rollout of the checks is expected to be discussed.
Several signatories represent areas linked to major racecourses, including Aintree, Ascot, Epsom and Newmarket, underlining how seriously parts of the racing industry are treating the issue.
Black Market Fears Continue to Grow
One of the biggest concerns raised in the letter centres around illegal gambling operators.
The MPs warned that increasing numbers of punters may choose unlicensed sites rather than provide sensitive financial information in order to continue betting legally in the regulated market.
The letter described the proposed checks as being “more appropriate for securing a mortgage than engaging in a legal pastime enjoyed by millions of Britons.”
This concern has become a recurring theme throughout the wider affordability checks debate, particularly as more industry groups argue that overregulation risks driving players away from licensed operators entirely.
We explored similar concerns recently when looking at why some players are increasingly discussing VPN gambling and offshore betting alternatives.
Betting and Gaming Council Maintains Opposition
The Betting and Gaming Council has continued its opposition to the policy, citing research suggesting two-thirds of punters would refuse to provide financial documents if asked.
Separate estimates referenced by the industry claim that around 120,000 additional bettors could become subject to checks under the new system.
British Horseracing Authority director Greg Swift welcomed the backing from MPs, describing the proposals as an “existential threat” to racing communities and warning they could lead to job losses across the sport.
Racecourse Association chairman Wilf Walsh also warned the financial damage from affordability checks is “already being felt” and would worsen if the pilot scheme became permanent policy.
The Gambling Commission Says Criticism Is Misleading
Despite the backlash, the Gambling Commission maintains the pilot has delivered “encouraging findings” and insists much of the criticism surrounding the checks has been “ill-informed or inaccurate.”
The regulator continues to argue that the measures are intended to reduce gambling-related harm while minimising disruption for the majority of customers.
At the centre of the debate is a balancing act the UK gambling industry is increasingly struggling with: how to improve player protection without pushing bettors away from the regulated market altogether.
That tension is now becoming one of the defining issues shaping the future of UK gambling regulation.