The results of a recent study conducted by YouGov on behalf of the UK’s Online Betting Guide (OLBG) have raised concerns about the possible implications of mandatory or more frequent affordability checks for UK bettors.According to the YouGov online survey, most bettors who were asked to provide proof of financial capacity complied. However, the willingness to submit such documents was less prevalent among those who hadn’t faced such requests.
Results of the Survey
The online survey, which included 1,007 bettors, revealed 21.8% of participants had been asked by gambling operators to provide documents such as payslips or bank statements. Of these, 74.3% complied, while 17.9% refused and switched to a different licensed operator. Alarmingly, 4.1% of respondents opted for an unlicensed operator after refusing to provide the requested documents, and 3.7% stopped betting altogether.For the 78.2% of bettors who hadn’t yet undergone affordability checks, their responses differed significantly. Among this group, 37.3% said they would refuse and stop betting, 35.0% claimed they would move to another licensed operator, and 4.1% said they would resort to an unlicensed company. A mere 23.5% indicated their willingness to provide the necessary documents.OLBG’s CEO, Richard Moffatt, highlighted the discrepancy in willingness to comply between those who had been asked for documents and those who hadn’t. He noted that the majority of bettors who were asked to provide proof complied and that very few of them stopped gambling or turned to the black market, which is the most undesirable outcome of measures aimed at promoting responsible gambling.
65% Unwilling to Comply
The survey also found that 65% of bettors overall were unwilling to comply with affordability checks. Bettors who spent lower monthly amounts were the least open to submitting financial documents, with 75.4% of those betting less than £5 a month and 72% of those betting £6-15 a month unwilling to undergo affordability checks.Moffatt expressed surprise that the number of lower-spending players had already been asked for documentation and suggested mandatory checks should not be imposed on those spending less than £100 per month based on circulating rumours.