After months of toing and froing, the UK Gambling Commission has finally revealed firm details of the affordability checks that punters may be subjected to as part of the government’s industry reform.
In response to the governmental White Paper, published in April 2023, the regulator has confirmed that they will be rolling out a pilot scheme for financial checks that they describe as ‘frictionless’ and ‘light touch’.
And according to the Commission, ‘consumers will not be affected’ during this pilot scheme, which will be used by the regulator as a chance to ‘refine’ data sharing processes. These will be used by bookmakers to ensure that any individual punter that has triggered affordability checks with one firm can’t then bet large sums with another.
The pilot is expected to last for around six months, after which the data collected will be analysed to see if the soft launch was successful – either way, a permanent roll-out of affordability checks is expected in 2025.
Protection vs Freedom
Punters have a major gripe with these financial checks, which could ultimately prevent them from betting with autonomy if they trigger the ‘loss ceiling’.
There were also fears that the checks would appear on an individual’s credit report, although these have seen been allayed by the regulator’s confirmation that these will be frictionless – i.e. undocumented, meaning that credit ratings will not be affected by betting activity.
As part of the pilot, punters who make net deposits of £150 or more may be subject to a check – ostensibly to see if they have outstanding financial issues, such as bankruptcy orders or unpaid debts. The individual’s personal details, such as job title or postcode, will not be taken into consideration, with assessments performed using data freely available in the public arena.
The limit will initially be set at £500 per month from August 2024, before reducing to £150 per month from February 2025.
Andrew Rhodes, the CEO of the Gambling Commission, has reiterated his desire to protect the most vulnerable of punters, while allowing others to bet with freedom.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The regulator has also confirmed that enhanced financial checks will only be passed into law if the pilot study proves they can be introduced in a ‘frictionless manner’.
All Change
Those aren’t the only changes that are to be actioned by the Commission in response to the White Paper.
A permanent ban on speed play functions in online casino and poker games will be introduced from January 17, 2025. These mechanics, labelled as ‘turbo’ or ‘rapid fire’, will no longer be allowed as part of a game’s design, and neither will the marketing of any feature designed to give players the illusion of control over random outcomes, such as the spin of a slot machine.
The autoplay function, which has been voluntarily banned since 2021, will now be enforced by law, while graphics and sounds that celebrate a player’s win – where the payout is the same as, or less than, their stake – will also be prohibited.
And as of 2025, casino game designers will no longer be allowed to implement mechanics that enable players to play multiple ‘products’, e.g. blackjack tables or roulette wheels, simultaneously.
Operators will have to update their marketing channels as well, offering customers a choice of which products they wish to be receive promotional messages for and via which medium – or to opt out completely. Until now, direct marketing in the gambling industry has been something of a Wild West, with unsolicited messages received via email, text and even WhatsApp. That will all change from January 2025.
New laws will also place a greater emphasis on bookmakers, casinos and other retail gambling establishments in checking and verifying the age of their customers – with a new directive to check the I.D. of anyone that appears to be under the age of 25. The previous trigger age was 21.
The only White Paper directive that is lacking transparency as part of the Commission’s pilot scheme is that of financial assessments for players that lose large sums in a quick period of time.
The regulator has not confirmed the specific trigger numbers for this; the White Paper had recommended loss limits of £1,000 per 24 hours or £2,000 over the course of 90 days.