Ministers Forced to Respond

A controversial crackdown on gambling has ignited a massive backlash, with nearly 25,000 people signing a petition in just one day. The government will now have to address the anger caused by planned financial checks on bettors.

Affordability Assessments Under Fire

The proposed affordability assessments would target individuals who lose £125 in a month or £500 in a year. The significant number of critics has already prompted the government to issue a formal response, and if the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be debated in Parliament.

Fury Over Impact on Poorer Areas

The recent proposals have drawn fierce criticism, particularly for their potential impact on those living in poorer areas. Julie Harrington, CEO of the British Horseracing Authority, expressed concern about the financial consequences for racing and criticized the discriminatory nature of the eligibility assessments based on job title and postcode.

Government's Stance

A spokesperson from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) emphasized the need for gambling regulation reform to protect individuals from significant financial losses. The spokesperson assured that the proposed checks would be light-touch and frictionless, targeting only the highest spenders. They also clarified that there would be no additional requirements for betting at physical locations such as tracks or high street betting shops, and that personal details collected by betting companies would not be used to determine when checks are carried out.