United Kingdom: financial tests for responsible gambling

The online gambling sector in the UK is under intense scrutiny. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) recently conducted a first phase of financial tests to assess the risks associated with online gamblers. This initiative aims to strengthen consumer protection and ensure responsible gambling. But what do these tests reveal and what are the next steps?

An initial evaluation phase

Between October 2024 and January 2025, the UKGC worked with three credit agencies to analyse players’ financial data. More than 530,000 assessments were carried out on around 300,000 accounts.

The aim was to test the ability of these agencies to provide accurate information to identify players in a precarious financial situation. However, the Commission points out that these tests are only a first step and that they will serve as a basis for refining the analysis methods in subsequent phases.

Initial results and challenges identified

Initial results indicate that credit agencies can provide relevant data for assessing players’ financial risks. However, several challenges have emerged:

• Accuracy of the data: some assessments have shown inconsistencies that require an improvement in the analysis criteria.
• Identifying risky behaviour: tests are not yet sufficient to detect all gamblers in difficulty.

In view of these findings, the UKGC plans to adjust its methods before moving on to the next phase of testing.

What are the next steps?

The UKGC has announced that this first phase will serve as a basis for developing new approaches. Further tests will be carried out using refined criteria to improve risk detection.

The second phase of testing goes beyond static player analysis and focuses on two key aspects:

1. Testing the speed of financial assessments
   • This phase aims to determine whether credit agencies can provide real-time assessments, enabling immediate detection of players at risk.
   • The aim is to integrate these analyses directly into gaming transactions without slowing down the user experience.
2. Combining these checks with other protection measures
   • The UKGC would like to see how these financial analyses can be integrated into the protection systems already in place at gaming operators.
   • This could include automatic alerts, temporary gaming restrictions or interventions tailored to the risks detected.

One of the major challenges of phase 2 is to ensure that these controls do not disrupt the player experience. Helen Rhodes, head of major policy projects at the UKGC, points out that this gradual approach allows technical problems to be resolved before any final implementation.

The ultimate aim is to establish a robust and balanced regulatory framework that protects players without restricting their freedom to gamble.

The difference between financial risk assessments and affordability checks

As part of the UK’s online gambling reforms, the UKGC has put in place various methods to assess the financial situation of players. Two key concepts emerge from these controls: financial risk assessments and affordability controls. Although they appear similar, these two types of assessment have different objectives and implications.

Financial risk assessments: identifying players in financial difficulty

Financial risk assessments are analyses designed to identify players who may be in financial difficulty or who show signs of economic vulnerability. Unlike affordability checks, these assessments do not seek to determine how much a player can afford to spend, but rather to detect early warning signs of financial problems.

These checks are based on data supplied by credit agencies. They analyse the player’s financial history, such as the presence of outstanding payments, large debts or other risk markers. They can be carried out in the background, without interrupting the customer’s gaming experience.

Affordability checks: determining how much a player can afford to lose

Affordability checks go a step further and seek to verify whether a player can really afford to spend the sums they commit to the game. The aim of these checks is to limit players’ spending according to their financial situation.

These checks often involve more detailed analyses of players’ income and expenditure. They may require supporting documents, such as pay slips or bank statements. They are often triggered when a player exceeds a loss threshold defined by the regulators or operators.