Gamblers to face background checks if they lose £500 a year

It comes under new laws proposed by the government with MPs presenting the plans to Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The proposal follows a review which involved meetings with stakeholders and 16,000 submissions of evidence.

It shared that more needs to be done to "protect those at risk of addiction and associated unaffordable losses".

Suggestions that gambling organisations should be made to check on the gambling habits of customers which could be seen as "unaffordable and harmful".

As Frazer shared: "We live in an age where people have a virtual mobile casino in their pockets."

Adding: "It has made gambling easier, quicker and often more fun, but when things go wrong it can see people lose thousands of pounds in a few swipes of the screen.

"So we are stepping in to update the law for those most at risk of harm with a new levy on gambling operators to pay for treatment and education, player protection checks and new online slots stake limits."

Gamblers could face background checks under new plans

The plans will see the Gambling Commission consult forms of financial risk check towards any customers that might be seen to have concerning habits.

The first to take place is if the customers lose £125 within a month or £500 in a year. 

Plus, any customers that are losing £1,000 a day or £2,000 in 90 days will face 'more detailed consideration of a customer’s financial position.'

As the proposal shares: "Our intention is that these checks will also be frictionless for customers and conducted online by credit reference agencies or through other means such as open banking in the first instance."