What are affordability checks?
Affordability checks — officially called Financial Risk Assessments — were introduced by the UK Gambling Commission in February 2025 as part of the Gambling Act White Paper reforms. They are designed to identify players who may be spending beyond their means, without requiring all players to submit financial documents.
The system has two tiers: a light-touch check that happens automatically without any player interaction, and an enhanced check that may require players to submit documentation if they reach higher loss thresholds.
The two tiers explained
| Tier | Threshold | What happens | Player action needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light-touch | £150 net deposits / 30 days | Operator checks credit reference data automatically. Invisible to player — takes seconds. | None |
| Enhanced | £500 net losses / 30 days OR £2,000 net losses / 365 days | Operator may request bank statements, payslips or open banking data. | May need to provide documents |
Who does the checking?
Each operator runs its own checks independently. There is no central industry-wide database pooling your losses across all your gambling accounts. If you gamble at five different sites, each one applies the thresholds independently — they cannot see what you spend elsewhere.
Light-touch checks use data from credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) and open banking data where available. These are soft checks that do not affect your credit score.
What can operators do if a check fails?
If an automated light-touch check raises a flag, the operator may restrict your account until you provide additional information. If you reach the £500 enhanced threshold and decline to provide documentation, the operator is required to restrict or close your account.
Operators cannot continue to take deposits from a player who has failed a check without receiving satisfactory documentation.
Impact on players so far
According to the Gambling Commission, fewer than 3% of active gambling accounts have triggered any intervention since the system went live in February 2025. The vast majority of recreational gamblers are unaffected. The checks are primarily designed to catch the small number of high-frequency, high-loss players.
Which UK bookmakers are affected?
All UK Gambling Commission licensed operators are required to implement affordability checks — including Bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Bet, Coral, Ladbrokes, Betfred and all UK online casinos. There are no exemptions.
FAQ
Will an affordability check affect my credit score?
No. Light-touch checks use soft credit searches which do not affect your credit score or appear on your credit file in a way visible to lenders. Enhanced checks using open banking also do not affect your credit score.
Can I refuse to provide documents?
Yes, but if you refuse at the enhanced check level (£500 net losses/month), the operator is required to restrict your account. You cannot continue to gamble at that operator without satisfying the check.
Do checks apply across all gambling sites?
No. Each operator applies checks independently. There is no cross-industry database. Your losses at one operator are not visible to another.
When did affordability checks start in the UK?
The current system went live in February 2025 following the UK Gambling Act White Paper published in 2023. The light-touch threshold was initially set at £125 and was later adjusted to £150.