Majority of UK bettors oppose stricter affordability checks, BGC survey shows

A majority of UK bettors would refuse to provide personal financial documents to continue gambling under proposed affordability checks, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which has raised concerns about a potential shift to unregulated markets.

The survey found that 65% of respondents would not be willing to share documents such as bank statements or payslips as part of enhanced financial risk checks. Industry stakeholders warn that such resistance could undermine the effectiveness of new regulatory measures.

The findings add to earlier data obtained by the BGC through a UK Gambling Commission survey, which showed that 77% of more than 12,000 respondents opposed financial risk checks, while only 14% of frequent bettors were willing to provide financial details.

The BGC suggested the figures indicate mandatory document-based checks could have a greater impact on customer behaviour than regulators anticipate, particularly if they introduce friction into the betting process.

Early trials of financial vulnerability checks have already highlighted issues, including inconsistent or unclear data, ambiguous outcomes for customers and increased friction in the customer journey, the BGC says.

“Ministers promised punters frictionless checks, but the Gambling Commission risks pushing ahead with the exact opposite,” said Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council. “Forcing punters to hand over bank statements isn’t ‘frictionless’, it’s intrusive and will drive customers to the illegal market, where there are no safeguards at all.”

“This poll sends a clear message from punters. A majority (65%) are unwilling to provide this kind of sensitive financial information. The reality is that the number could be even higher when these checks are rolled out in practice.”

Hurst warned that the measures could push consumers towards unregulated operators, undermining safeguards designed to protect them.

The debate over affordability checks has also drawn political attention. More than 100,000 people signed a petition against the measures in 2024, prompting a Westminster Hall debate in which then-minister Stuart Andrew MP said checks would only be introduced if they were “truly frictionless.”

Concerns have also been raised by the British Horseracing Authority, which warned in an open letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy that stringent affordability checks could deter regular bettors and harm the sport’s funding model.

“This unprecedented state intrusion into people’s private lives has dismayed the millions of people who love horse racing,” the authority said.

The BGC has also highlighted the scale of the unregulated market, estimating that as much as £60 million ($80.5 million) was wagered with illegal operators during the Cheltenham Festival.