The UK Gambling Commission (GC) has confirmed that new Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) will be introduced gradually, with the first phase focused on players showing the highest levels of spending.
The regulator said the initial stage will apply to customers who deposit more than £5,000 within a rolling 24-hour period. For younger players aged 18 to 24, the threshold will be lower at £2,500, reflecting evidence that younger adults may face higher gambling-related risks.
The checks are designed to identify customers who could be experiencing financial difficulties while keeping the process as frictionless as possible. According to the GC, results from its pilot programme showed that around 97% of assessments could be completed using data from credit reference agencies without affecting players’ credit scores or requiring them to provide documents.
The Commission said thresholds will be reduced over time as the system is phased in, rather than immediately introducing checks at lower spending levels. The approach follows concerns from operators and players about privacy, data accuracy and the potential impact on customers who gamble without experiencing harm.
Acting GC chief executive Sarah Gardner said the phased model aims to balance consumer protection with limiting disruption for the majority of players. The regulator believes the assessments will help operators identify financial vulnerability earlier and provide support where needed.
However, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) criticised the decision, saying it was disappointed that the rollout was confirmed before full pilot data had been published. The trade body argued that trials highlighted issues with inconsistent credit reference information and warned that intrusive checks could push some players towards unlicensed gambling sites.
Financial Risk Assessments form part of the wider gambling reforms introduced following the UK government’s Gambling Act review. The GC has repeatedly stressed that the checks are not intended to act as blanket affordability limits, but as a targeted tool to detect potential harm among customers with unusually high spending patterns.