Online gamblers betting more than £1k to face new checks
New UK regulations will require online gamblers betting more than £1,000 a month to undergo financial risk checks to prevent high-level losses and harm. The measures aim to identify vulnerable individuals while balancing the freedom to gamble. The checks will apply to an estimated 3% of betting accounts.
Background
- The UK is rolling out new financial checks for online gamblers who spend over £1,000 in a day or £5,000 in a month (lower thresholds apply for younger adults). Operators will have to assess affordability based on publicly available financial data like CCJs, insolvency records, or voluntarily submitted payslips.
- This is part of the 2023 Gambling Act Review white paper, the first major update to UK gambling law since 2005. The policy aims to tackle "unaffordable losses" and problem gambling without imposing blanket stake limits.
- The gambling industry has pushed back, warning that intrusive checks will drive customers to unregulated black-market sites. The government says the checks are "frictionless" for the vast majority and will target only the top 3% of accounts by spending level.
- Key figures: the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) oversees the policy; the Gambling Commission will enforce the rules from April 2025.