A petition in the UK to abandon the introduction of affordability checks on people who want to bet has surpassed the 100,000 mark. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Up for Parliament debate

A UK petition to abandon the introduction of affordability checks on people who want to bet has surpassed the 100,000 mark and will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said reaching 100,000 signatures in a few weeks demonstrates the “opposition felt by punters across Britain to the proposed financial risk/affordability checks.”

recognizes the voices of more than 100,000 racing fans and bettors”

Harrington added that it was important the government “recognizes the voices of more than 100,000 racing fans and bettors” and looks at its policy.

The government has already responded to the petition, which launched at the start of November, stating they are “committed to a proportionate, frictionless system of financial risk checks, to protect those at risk of harm without over-regulating.”

“Frictionless as possible”

The issue of affordability checks was questioned in April when the government published its gambling white paper.

The petition milestone comes as ministers announced in the white paper that affordability checks would occur on players if their net loss hits £125 ($156) per month or £500 ($622) per year.

More detailed affordability checks will take place at loss thresholds of £1,000 ($1,245) within 24 hours or £2,000 ($2,490) within a 90-day period. These amounts will be cut in half for those under age 25..

The government claims affordability checks will be as “frictionless as possible” and that they wouldn’t cause any harm to the horse racing industry. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) believes this won’t happen because of the “unique relationship between British racing and betting.”

Push to the black market

Jockey Club managing director Ian Renton is supportive of the measures to tackle problem gambling, but he believes that “affordability checks could place those they seek to protect in harm’s way by pushing them to unregulated black markets.”

black market could have “significant financial implications”

In September, the BHA criticized the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) claims that the threat of the black market on the industry is “overstated.” Far from being overstated, the BHA said the black market could have “significant financial implications” on the horse racing industry.

According to the BHA, each time £10m ($12.5m) of British horse racing revenue from gambling goes to the black market, horse racing misses out on £1m ($1.25m) in levy funding and another £1.5m ($2m) in media rights.