A group of 19 cross-party MPs has urged UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to halt the rollout of the UK Gambling Commission’s new financial risk assessments, warning the measures could damage the country’s horseracing sector and licensed betting market.
The MPs, who collectively represent 59 British racecourses, raised their concerns in an open letter published through the Racing Post. They argued that the affordability checks, due to begin later this month, risk creating unnecessary friction for bettors and could push consumers toward unregulated gambling platforms.
According to the letter, horseracing contributes more than £4 billion annually to the UK economy, supports around 85,000 jobs and generates roughly £300 million in tax revenue each year. The MPs said the sector is already facing financial pressure and warned that stricter checks on customers could worsen the situation.
The dispute centers on the Gambling Commission’s planned Financial Risk Assessments, which are designed to identify players potentially experiencing gambling-related harm. The system would use data from credit reference agencies to conduct additional checks on some customers.
However, the MPs argued that the Gambling Commission’s own pilot programme failed to prove the process would be fully “frictionless” for consumers. They also expressed concern that intrusive checks could drive players away from regulated operators and toward black-market sites.
The letter referenced Treasury figures showing a sharp increase in illegal betting activity between August 2021 and September 2023, with MPs calling for the policy to be paused until a full economic and consumer impact review is completed.
The intervention follows growing opposition from parts of the betting and racing industries. Last month, the British Horseracing Authority also publicly criticised the affordability checks and warned they could harm racing’s long-standing relationship with betting operators.