'Our sport's in danger if we don't get it right' - Kim Bailey warns of impending disaster for racing due to affordability checks

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Grand National-winning trainer Kim Bailey has warned "our sport is in danger" if affordability checks are pushed through on punters.

Bailey urged racing's participants, and fans, to raise their concerns about the proposals to their MPs, with the financial hit to the sport of their imposition coming at the same time as tax increases and fuel rises brought on by the war in the Middle East.

He said: "We need MPs to listen to our concerns, as I fear they haven't got a clue what they're doing when it comes to this and just have their heads in the sand to let them go through. 

"We have to stick together and keep the pressure on as our sport is in danger if we don't get it right. The whole scenario could be a disaster, especially alongside what's happening in the wider world. We've got business rates going up and fuel prices rising too. I really hope the government sees some sense."

Bailey's warning follows last week's Grand National, on which as much as £40 million may have been staked in the black market, according to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). 

In total, the BGC estimated up to £100m could have been wagered with illegal operators over the course of the three-day meeting at Aintree.

• Affordability checks pushing punters to illegal operators as well as on-course market, says owner and former bookmaker 

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BGC chief executive Grainne Hurst said: “The Grand National is one of the biggest moments in the sporting calendar, enjoyed safely by millions. But the criminal, harmful black market will also have tried to cash in, targeting punters with illegal betting that offers zero protections. Rising costs and increasingly intrusive checks will make it only harder for legitimate operators to compete."

Grainne Hurst: "Rising costs and increasingly intrusive checks will make it only harder for legitimate operators to compete"

Concerns have been increasing that affordability checks could be signed off by the Gambling Commission board as soon as next month, despite major issues with the data being identified during a pilot, including credit reference agencies returning different results for the same customer.

As such, punters triggering the check could be forced to provide sensitive financial information to continue betting. A YouGov poll for the BGC published last week revealed two-thirds of punters would be unwilling to provide these documents.

Last week, an open letter was sent to culture secretary Lisa Nandy signed by more than 400 figures from British racing and supported by the Racing Post, calling for the check to be halted, while prominent gambling reform campaigner James Noyes called for a pause due to concerns involving "inconsistent data, unclear outcomes and unnecessary friction". 

On Thursday, the Gambling Commission published its first update on the pilot for 11 months in which Helen Rhodes, the commission's director of major policy projects and evaluation, claimed commentary around the checks had been "ill-informed or inaccurate" and that the pilot had given "very encouraging findings on how frictionless and speedy assessments could be".

In response, the BHA said it was essential the checks were fully frictionless. 

A spokesman said: "If these checks are not fully frictionless – as was previously promised – and the credit reference agencies cannot provide consistent results for betting operators to work with, we risk adding more friction, not less, making the illegal market problem even worse."

Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Emma Lavelle, a former president of the National Trainers Federation, said everyone with an interest in racing needed to work together to oppose affordability checks being rolled out in a way that would damage the sport.

She said: "It's worrying times, but we all just have to work together. The betting industry, the racing industry, everybody, so that we can keep fighting to enjoy all the magical moments on the track."

Read these next:

Affordability checks pushing punters to illegal operators as well as on-course market, says owner and former bookmaker 

Affordability check results cannot be trusted, Gambling Commission told, as it moves closer to decision on controversial scheme 

'The current situation is raising serious questions' - supporter of affordability checks urges government to pause their introduction 

It should be obvious that affordability checks will not do what they're supposed to - it is vital racing helps the government realise that 

To add your signature to the campaign against affordability checks, visit https://saveourbets.eaction.org.uk/ and follow the instructions. 

The Racing Post also wants to hear from you: What has been your experience of affordability checks? It's a chance for your voice to be heard. Email the Racing Post at editor@racingpost.com with the subject 'Affordability checks' to share your experiences and your contact details.