The Gambling Commission confirmed it will introduce financial risk assessments for British gamblers in two stages, with thresholds higher than first proposed. The timetable remains unconfirmed, and the Betting and Gaming Council said concerns about data reliability and customer impact remain unresolved.
The checks will affect how operators identify and respond to customers who may be in financial difficulty.
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The UKGC has confirmed plans for a phased introduction of financial risk assessments. It briefed operators and journalists on an approach intended to identify customers at high financial risk.
The Gambling Commission's acting CEO said financial risk assessments leave more than 97% of accounts untouched. The acting CEO accused opponents of using minor points to pick apart the reforms.
Sarah Gardner, the acting chief executive of the regulator, has pushed back at what she characterised as minor objections being used to dismantle the reforms, according to a news report. She maintains that financial risk assessments leave more than 97% of accounts untouched.
The Gambling Commission will publish evidence on financial risk assessments in autumn. Sarah Gardner told MPs the delay reflects the implementation timetable, the outlet reported.
Industry stakeholders have criticised the UK Gambling Commission's announcement that it is ready to impose Financial Risk Assessments on operators. The Commission told journalists at a Tuesday meeting it was prepared to apply a staged rollout.
The Betting and Gaming Council criticised the UK Gambling Commission’s planned financial risk assessments for higher-spending customers. Chief executive Grainne Hurst said questions remain about data reliability, consumer effects and how the checks will work, and argued that the Commission has not published a full evaluation of its pilot. The Commission has announced working groups to support implementation, according to the report.