UKGC to begin 'light-touch' financial risk checks in August

[The Buzz]

The UKGC announced it will introduce mandated "light touch" affordability checks to be initiated after a player's monthly expenditure exceeds £150.

Aimed at "enhancing consumer safety and choice," these new measures are the culmination of numerous White Paper consultations and will be rolled out in four phases: August 2024, November 2024, January 2025, and February 2025.

The checks "will focus solely on publicly available data and, following feedback through consultation, will not require gambling businesses to consider an individual’s personal details such as postcode or job title."

Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission CEO, said in the press release:

“As a gambling regulator it’s vital that the introduction of new rules is based on evidence and takes into account the views of consumers and other interested parties.

“We have listened to the views expressed in our engagement and in the consultation responses, and we have made changes while still ensuring that we deliver meaningful protections.

“We are also pleased to be taking forward a pilot of financial risk assessments and data collection, which together will ensure that we can make informed decisions about how these assessments can be implemented in a way that supports both consumer freedom and protections.

“We have to get the balance right between protecting people from the potentially life-ruining effects of gambling-related harm and respecting the freedom of adults to engage in an activity that the vast majority do so without experiencing harm.”

Read more: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.u...onsumer-choice

[newcustomeroffer]

The pilot scheme starts for this today - more details in this blog post.

Looks like a theoretical pilot rather than actually doing anything for real and will last 6-7 months.

[NoDepositCasinos]

The pilot scheme starts for this today - more details in this blog post.

Looks like a theoretical pilot rather than actually doing anything for real and will last 6-7 months.

Thank you for sharing this update. I must admit, I find it challenging to see what the incentive is for operators in all of this. From what I’ve read, there seems to be a heavy emphasis on the actions operators should take, without fully considering that they are running a business. I’m not convinced that certain responsibilities should fall on them, and I’m also not a fan of affordability checks or anything that seems to threaten individual freedom for those capable of making their own decisions.