Government urged to move on Gambling Act as affordability checks hit punters

Fresh calls have been made for the government to accelerate its publication of a white paper into the review of the 2005 Gambling Act following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as the new prime minister.

Repeated delays to the publication of the white paper have left the racing and betting industries, as well as punters, in a state of flux while they wait to find out what levels of restriction might be placed on betting by statutory legislation.

In the absence of any government announcement, the Gambling Commission, which oversees the betting industry, has been increasingly assertive in its dealing with bookmakers, leading to affordability checks being introduced on some customers which require sensitive personal information to be handed over to allow them to continue betting.

The impact of these checks was highlighted last week by 888 Holdings, the owner of William Hill, which reported a seven per cent drop in revenue, partly due to “enhanced player safety measures” introduced in the UK.

The resignation last week of Liz Truss as prime minister threatened to prolong the wait for the gambling review, although Sunak has retained Michelle Donelan as culture secretary with Damian Collins remaining the parliamentary under-secretary responsible for gambling within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) following a cabinet reshuffle.

The gambling review white paper was said to be among the “priorities” for the government by Donelan last week, although the passage of the Online Safety Bill through parliament is understood to be the main focus for the DCMS and could come before MPs next week.

Nevertheless, the glacial progress on the gambling review continues to be a source of concern and frustration for punters, with Sean Trivass, the new chair of the Horseracing Bettors Forum, urging the government to provide clarity on the matter as soon as possible.

HBF chair Sean Trivass: 'We need to know what we're up against'Credit: Horseracing Bettors Forum

“In simplistic terms, we want confirmation of what is going to be in this review sooner rather than later as what's happening has put us all into limbo,” Trivass said on Wednesday.

“We know what we would like the future to hold, but we're also aware of what's come out so far and what it might actually hold. We need to know what we're up against.

“This delay is having an impact on business and on the man or woman on the street who doesn't know whether they'll be able to keep their account open, how much they might be allowed to bet and whether they'll have to pass on any sensitive information to do so.

“The limbo we're all in is the real issue at the moment, we could do with knowing where we stand. There are more pressing matters going on in government at the moment, we know that, but the sooner there is something on this the better it has to be for everyone.”

The white paper was initially forecast to be published in the summer, with so-called ‘non-intrusive’ checks on a punter's ability to afford losses thought likely to be included. Stricter checks, requiring punters to provide bank statements once losses cross a certain threshold, have also been mooted.

Racing had hoped potential reform to the levy would be brought forward as part of the process, with the industry having estimated it could lose up to £100 million a year under the most draconian affordability checks.

Read this next:

888 Holdings sees drop in UK revenue as impact of affordability checks hits home (£)

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content