Affordability Checks

[newcustomeroffer]

I've read a few comments on twitter recently from punters who'd encoutered affordability checks/questions, but this is the first confirmation I've seen from a bookie group that they're actively using them, even ahead of any forthcoming UKGC directive:

Entain launches new affordability checks amid sustainability drive


The comments I read were generally along the lines of 'why the hell should I tell you that information' etc, and that providing proof of income, expenditure, bank statements etc was intrusive and excessive, although in equal measure some were begrudgingly going ahead because they wanted to keep that particular account active.

Assuming this rolls out in some fashion for all bookies in the near future then I guess punters have 3 choices: comply, stop betting or go to an offshore bookie who doesn't ask any questions. Clearly the 2nd and 3rd options are damaging to the (regulated) industry, however perhaps the upside is that those who comply are likely to be more loyal so as to avoid the same rigmorale with a new bookie.

Perhaps there needs to be a trade-off wherby those who do comply get some benefits or other. What are people's thoughts on how this all plays out?

[JamieG1981]

On first glance I quite like this model. Basically saying unless you get flagged as a problem gambler or reach a certain threshold you can carry on and no checks are needed.

[Sherlock]

First of all I hope Entain digged their own grave.

However, many in the industry have attacked these proposals, claiming that it would make regulated sites less attractive to players

Not a rocket science.

This world is overregulated. So people who live in society, are pushed from all sides. You build a house, you neeed 60 papers. You go shopping, you have to have a facemask (now a respirator), put alcohol on hands (I just got hand inflammation and had to go to hospital, very likely because the skin is dry after that). You fly, so you get the rectal probe on the top of that. You send money via bank wire and the anal probe waits even for your mother.

Ok, so average man, after the busy day, when he has to fulfill more or less idiotic orders, wants to relax. It is less and less possibilities how to do it (like going to outside, wtf you dare). The more rich the guy is, the harded he worked, the more he wants to lose, the higher is probability of some check. So yes, it absolutely makes sense that he wants to go at the end of the day through some check.

What remains? Netflix (still without checks), porn (checks coming soon), beating his wife (will be beaten by woke people), alcohol&drugs (only good alternative here), offshore gambling, suicide.

[FintanCostello]

From what I understand, affordability / source of funds checks have been in place with all Bookies in the UK for a while now, all that has changed is the amount they are triggered by.

[Pokerface]

Certainly a very interesting concept and they are being proactive to manage player risk. Really not too different than investing (Canadian banks anyways), where you have to review a series of question to determine your comfort to risk and the type of investments to invest in.

In the end these are there to protect consumers and the businesses. May be over reaching and more control than we like but .....

[PROFRBcom]

So you are telling me that offshore sites that serve the UK market are about to be hot...

recommendations anyone?

[newcustomeroffer]

Here's an example that I saw (not necessarily Entain):

1. Are you comfortable with your current levels of wagering?
2. What is your current employment status, i.e. FT/PT/Contracted?
3. What is your job title/area of occupation?
4. How much do you earn PA gross?
5. What is your net monthly income?
6. What are your total monthly outgoings, this should include mortgage/rent and other substantial regular outgoings
7. What is your monthly budget for gambling?
8. Would you consider using deposit limits to manage yours spend? If yes, what would be a suitable weekly/monthly limit for you?
9. Do you currently bet with any other providers, if so how many in total and to what sort of level?
10. Do you use any other source of income for your gambling?

Fairly intrusive - i wonder how many recreational punters take one look at that and walk away.

[Mattbar]

We already saw a drop off in registration to FTD conversion last year when the new UK verification rules came in. If people don't even want to send in ID to verify who they are and where they live you can be sure that many more will not want to send in bank statements, proof of income or answer these questions.

This hasn't come in yet and we don't know what the final affordability checks will look like but you can guarantee they will happen in some form. Within a year or so the debate will switch from being about affordability checks to protect problem gamblers to why is everyone betting with unlicensed sites.

With the exception of taking out a mortgage on a house I've never had to answer questions like these before. Fair enough if you want to borrow 6 figures of money from a bank, they want to make sure you can pay it, but most people won't do this to deposit and bet.

What happens if you are playing in a land-based casino at a table? Is someone going to come over with a clipboard and ask you all these questions? Do you need to take your bank statements with you on your night out to the casino? It's not practical in the least.

[newcustomeroffer]

What happens if you are playing in a land-based casino at a table? Is someone going to come over with a clipboard and ask you all these questions? Do you need to take your bank statements with you on your night out to the casino? It's not practical in the least.

Yep, and how can they possibly keep any kind of sensible tally of all gambling-related spend as per question 9? Scratchcards, lottery tickets, a couple of quid in the fruit machine in the pub (chance would be a fine thing!!), tenner at Corals as I walked past, night at the casino and 10 different betting accounts that can't possibly have a consolidated single-customer view.

[Sherlock]

So you are telling me that offshore sites that serve the UK market are about to be hot...

recommendations anyone?

Wait few years or decades. And look at crypto, until it really makes something else than selling alley-oops from NBA engraved into blockchain.
The decentralised internet must be first created and people had to get used to it. This regulation is one of strong incentives for such a project, but that is it.

Until then UK is a gambling dessert. The best business plan there is to buy underground garage and offer there unrestricted games. UK has very good realtime censorship of internet = they can disable a domain withing minutes (and believe me they are doing it) and god knows who is deciding about it. On the top the money controls are there as elsewhere. I do not recall one sigle brit betting in crypto (it is possible at sites where I do not see country of registration) and crypto bookies are avoiding UK much more than USA. So, it is a dessert.

[CasinoDefence]

Had affordability checks at nearly all casinos I play at now. Sky lumbered me with a £250 per month limit while Casumo put me at ridiculous £20,000 per month.

Can see why UK players are getting bored with online gambling with all these limits and restrictions.

[newcustomeroffer]

Yep, and how can they possibly keep any kind of sensible tally of all gambling-related spend as per question 9? Scratchcards, lottery tickets, a couple of quid in the fruit machine in the pub (chance would be a fine thing!!), tenner at Corals as I walked past, night at the casino and 10 different betting accounts that can't possibly have a consolidated single-customer view.

A bit more information released from the UKGC related to their plans for a single customer view: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.u...stry-challenge

Have seen first hand from an old corporate job how tough creating a SCV is from disparate internal data, let alone trying to aggregate it from different sources. Interesting to see how this develops.

[Former Member 14]

This world is overregulated.

Yes, and in 5 years time it will be even more than it is now.

(no offence meant to anyone)... but most people are like mice on a wheel.

Lets take affiliate programs/operators screwing us all over... The absurd "Admin Fees". Never had them years ago. So what happens? A handful of affiliates like myself, stand up against these SCAM FEES. We're hoping others will have our backs, and join in the fight against these scam fees.

These "Admin Fees" could have been stamped out, but now it's too late.

Nothing changes because... Nothing Fk'ing changes.

[Sherlock]

I did not know you are fan of Orbital

I don't know you people

Why are you here?

No, no good
No, no good

Nothing changes

No, no good
No, no good

Nothing changes
Nothing

No, no good
No, no good

Nothing changes
Nothing
God d amn you!

Nothing changes

Nothing

Take it from the brighter side. At least you reached the wisdom before death. The old books that say that nothing changes (so probably old wise books as we can now confirm) say that the only thing in life that matters is to be conscious by the time of death.

The same books do not say that you are not allowed to offend anyone by telling truth. But they say you will get punished for that. I can imagine worse punishment than being ignored by ignorants who are already broke in near future because they choose hope over reality.