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(AsiaGameHub) – A recent YouGov survey commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) indicates that 65% of UK gamblers would decline to submit personal financial records, such as payslips or bank statements, if such documentation were mandated to maintain their betting accounts.
These findings have amplified industry anxieties that the proposed affordability assessments might compel users to abandon regulated platforms in favor of the illicit gambling sector.
Significant hesitation to disclose information
The YouGov report, released by the BGC on Wednesday, highlights a marked reluctance among bettors to divulge private financial data as part of enhanced verification procedures. This resistance poses a risk of substantial customer loss for the regulated industry should the Gambling Commission implement compulsory, document-based financial risk evaluations.
These results align with earlier data gathered by the BGC via a Freedom of Information request regarding a Gambling Commission study. That previous research revealed that 77% of more than 12,000 participants were against financial risk checks, with only 14% of regular bettors expressing a willingness to share financial details.
The BGC suggests these combined figures indicate that mandatory financial documentation requirements may impact customers more severely than regulators anticipate.
During initial testing of financial vulnerability check protocols, the BGC identified several issues, including ambiguous or inconsistent data, unclear outcomes for users, and increased friction throughout the customer experience.
Sharing banking data is not ‘frictionless’
“Ministers gave assurances of frictionless checks, yet the Gambling Commission appears to be moving toward the exact opposite,” stated Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council.
“Compelling punters to surrender bank statements is far from ‘frictionless’; it is invasive and will drive users toward the illegal market, where no protections exist.
“This poll conveys a clear message from bettors. A majority (65%) are unwilling to provide this sensitive financial data. In practice, that figure could prove even higher once these checks are implemented.
“These measures will push customers away from the regulated sector and into the harmful, unregulated black market, thereby undermining the very safeguards these checks are intended to provide.
“The vast majority of customers gamble safely and within their means. Our focus should be on protecting the vulnerable, rather than imposing unnecessary barriers on millions of typical punters.
“Failing to strike the right balance will not only erode customer trust but will also increase risks to individuals and further stimulate the growth of the illegal market.”
In 2024, a petition opposing these checks garnered over 100,000 signatures, prompting a Westminster Hall debate where then-minister Stuart Andrew MP stated that such checks would only be implemented if they were “truly frictionless.”
Industry-wide concerns
These apprehensions are shared across the racing industry. In an open letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, the British Horseracing Authority warned that excessively rigid financial risk assessments could lead to unintended negative consequences for the sport.
The letter cautioned that intrusive affordability requirements risk alienating regular bettors, which would ultimately affect the funding model for racing.
“This unprecedented state interference in the private lives of citizens has dismayed the millions who enjoy horse racing.”
The BGC has increasingly highlighted the dangers of unregulated gaming, estimating that as much as £60 million was wagered with unlicensed operators during the Cheltenham Festival.
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