UK Gambling “Affordability Checks” To Be Scrapped

Rumours coming out of the current gambling review in the UK suggest the government is going to scrap the current “affordability checks” for customers. The news will anger the anti-gambling lobby but is good news for bookmakers, casinos and online operators.

The UK Gambling Commission had called for the rule to be enforced to £100 per month for affordability from customers to offer payslips of proof they can afford to lose, however the feeling within the review body believes the measures would be too restrictive and damage an industry, especially the land based sector that is reeling from the current COVID0-19 pandemic.

It is understood the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is considering removing these powers from the Gambling Commission or raising the current level to a much higher threshold.

The review that started in December 2020 for a call for evidence and will report its findings in the autumn of this year is the biggest shakeup of the gambling industry for decades and it is still understood to contain the removal of advertising and VIP programmes for operators but the loosening of the affordability check will be welcomed by all sectors of the industry.

It is also rumoured that the Gambling Commission could be replaced by a gambling ombudsman as reformers say the Commission has lost its way in the ever growing digital business.

Indeed with the departure of long serving Gambling Commission chief Neil McArthur who has served for the commission for 15 years it is strongly thought there will be a major shakeup of the regulator.