The UK Gaming Authority (GA) has sent an open message to address what it calls “misinterpretations” surrounding its current discussions on proposed financial risk assessments.
The regulatory body accuses the Racing Post, a horse racing and sports betting publication, of providing “one-sided reporting.” The Commission also alleges the newspaper “declined” to publish the agency’s letter in response to the coverage.
Financial risk assessments, also known as affordability checks, have been one of the most controversial topics in the Gambling Act Review White Paper since its release in April.
In response to the message, Tom Kerr, editor of the Racing Post, released a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“We informed the GA that we were unwilling to publish its letter if it misrepresented the disagreements in our reporting as factual errors,” he wrote.
“This is exactly what the letter does. It simply reiterates the contentious arguments from the White Paper and the discussions, without addressing the numerous concerns raised by Racing Post readers and contributors. In fact, it dismisses these concerns as unfounded.”
Financial background checks
The group maintains in a public letter that the assertion that “a considerable portion of betting consumers are obligated to furnish pay stubs or bank records when wagering” is inaccurate.
The group adds that only 0.3% of account holders would be requested to “directly provide supplemental financial details which operators have already sought from some patrons.” Roughly 90% of financial risk evaluations would be carried out through credit reporting agencies and open banking.
The group highlights that “very few remarks have indicated that these suggestions pertain solely to online gambling.”
“Individuals frequently presume that credit checks will impact credit ratings and could potentially harm credit scores. […] These gentle credit checks will not.”
The group’s chief executive, Andrew Rhodes, stated earlier this month that affordability checks have dominated the responses to the gambling act review discussion thus far.
**Addressing “false information”**
Rhodes recently stated that the regulatory body has “observed a significant amount of false information in the media and on social media.” Consequently, the group has released a series of Q&As on its website to “assist with responses during the… discussion.”
Last month, Rhodes criticized the “misuse of gambling statistics” to support specific political results.
Key aspects of the proposals include “effortless financial risk assessments on an estimated 3% of gambling accounts.”
Its a smart move to utilize publicly available information for a swift assessment of 20% of accounts to determine their potential financial vulnerability.
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