Entain trials 'self-assessment' checks and voices concerns over government plans

The parent company of Ladbrokes and Coral is trialling what it has described as a "self-assessment" system for affordability checks on customers, aiming to avoid having to make intrusive requests for personal financial information.

Entain has already put in place its own safer gambling system ARC – Advanced Responsibility and Care – but voiced concerns about reports that ministers are planning to introduce what have been described as unintrusive affordability checks on punters.

Those reports came in recent weeks as speculation continues as to what will be contained in the government's long-delayed gambling review white paper.

A statement from Entain said: "We are concerned about proposals for a new, 'frictionless' affordability check which has neither been costed or trialled on customers and that could be imposed on customers as part of the government’s Gambling Act review.

"In order to avoid intrusive checks on customers that would include gambling companies asking people for their bank statements when they are spending small sums of money a month, we are trialling an alternative self-assessment system – exactly the same approach the government uses when asking people to complete tax returns.

"This, backed by additional information from credit reference agencies, allows us to ensure the most vulnerable are protected while allowing the vast majority of customers who bet with us to carry on doing so without any personal or data privacy concerns."

Affordability checks are expected to figure among the proposals contained within the white paper, although it has been reported there would also be consultation on the subject.

The Entain statement continued: "We are of course very happy to work with the government to test and trial any new frictionless affordability checks, but given the experimental nature of this model it must be tested and trialled very thoroughly before becoming mandatory.

"To do otherwise could damage jobs, the horseracing industry, tax revenues, and drive customers to the black market."

Read more on affordability checks:

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An existential threat - how did affordability checks become such a big issue?

Government urged to issue balanced white paper after worrying report emerges

'There's a lot at stake' - wait goes on two years since gambling review launch

Implementing gambling reform - can the regulator be trusted to play fair?

Minister wants gambling review white paper 'out of the door' in next few weeks

Intrusive affordability checks would be a disaster - but proponents don't get it

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