Financial risk assessments, also known as affordability checks, have been one of the most debated reforms to come out of the UK Gambling Act review. On this episode of the iGaming Daily podcast, Charlie Horner sits down with SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir to explore the controversial impacts of the checks and how it’s likely to affect the UK gambling market. 

First pitched as a cornerstone of the White Paper consultation back in 2023-2024, the checks are designed to identify customers showing signs of financial distress, before they accumulate harmful losses. 

For Menmuir, the main point of controversy here lies in the mandate, “its not been delivered and is now turning into somewhat of a blame game”. For the Gambling Commission, a test pilot of the scheme proved to be unpopular with both punters and operators alike, while the Gambling Commission itself has yet to release clear data on the trial period, “we don’t know the efficiency of these checks […] whether the project or the protection is viable. There’s still so many questions to be answered.” added Menmuir.

The pair dove deeper, with Menmuir highlighting how financial risk assessments on consumers, while backed on a technical level, struggled in actual practice, “to predict and protect someone’s affordability is a very acute science”.

What has also contributed to the controversial reception of the affordability check scheme is the clarity (or lack there of) and pace of the process. It’s taken three years for the Commission to publicly define what constitutes a high-risk customer and what thresholds trigger a full assessment. Meanwhile, as Horner points out, “it’s an interesting blog post the Commission has put up on their website […] the White Paper suggested that 80% of assessments would be frictionless, while they’re now saying 97%”.

One of the most commercially sensitive issues to emerge from the programme is the impact on high-spend customers. Q1 data from major UK operators has already pointed to difficulties retaining this segment, as industry figures warn any additional friction here risks pushing these customers onto competitor platforms, or worse, unregulated markets.

“They’re not going to jump through these hoops,” argued Menmuir, “why should you be asked the same questions to take out a mortgage as it is to open a new book maker account?” 

Casting a long shadow over these discussions is the growing Black Market risk in Britain. The UK Government has announced a £26m investment to set up an illegal gambling taskforce, with the Gambling Commission recently advertising for a Head of Illegal Gambling role. For Menmuir, it all goes back to one word: friction.

“Even the think tanks that supported affordability checks have now changed their posture”, asserted Menmuir, “they have even said don’t process them unless you’re completely sure that they are effective”. For the Gambling Commission, the biggest fear here lies in implementing these restrictions and changing the habits of consumers by making it easier to gamble on unregulated platforms. 

No date has been confirmed for a full live rollout. The Gambling Commission has indicated that a live phase is expected later in 2026, but the industry is still waiting for the operational clarity it needs to prepare.