Horse racing continues to demonstrate its opposition to the Gambling Commission on proposed “frictionless” affordability checks.
Over 500 figures in the world of racing have signed an open letter, written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. In the letter, those involved in British racing express “deep concern” for the rollout of the aforementioned checks.
The so-called frictionless checks have been trialled in recent months, with many punters objecting to such measures. There is now concern within racing that as much as £250 million could be lost in funding the sport. A fair percentage would then go the way of black market operators. A recent undercover expose by the Racing Post showed the dangers of the irregulated bookmaking market.
As such, racing is attempting to take matters into its own hands. Should affordability checks be progressed as per the Gambling Commission’s recommendations, they may be unfurled quickly. It is reported that they could be unfurled within the next month.
Racing figures unite against “unprecedented state intrusion”
While calling for cooperation from the government, the open letter takes no liberties with its dismantling of affordability checks.
An early passage from the letter details the risks that lie ahead for British racing:
“For more than 350 years our sport has enjoyed a uniquely interdependent relationship with betting. A day at the races and a flutter on the horses is something that is deeply embedded in the British way of life. But this cultural, social and economic institution is now at risk if the decision to impose affordability checks for even low levels of betting goes ahead.”
“Later on, the farce of affordability checks and the dangers that lie ahead, are laid bare:
While the intention was sensible, the delivery has failed. Instead of making it easier and safer for people to have that flutter, regulatory changes have only made it harder.
Little wonder then that growing numbers of people are now betting illegally rather than be subjected to intrusive checks more appropriate for securing a mortgage than engaging in a legal pastime enjoyed by millions of Britons.
Even a survey by the Gambling Commission found 66 per cent of punters saying that they would not feel comfortable about operators using credit reference data.
This unprecedented state intrusion into people’s private lives has dismayed the millions of people who love horseracing. Over 100,000 signed a petition against the checks in 2024, triggering a Westminster Hall debate at which then Minister Stuart Andrew MP said that the checks would only be introduced if they were “truly frictionless.””
This is not the first time racing has tried to take drastic action in opposition. All British horse racing meetings were cancelled on September 10th last year in a nationwide protest.