A prominent former MP and the chairperson of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have both gone public with their concerns about the strict checks gambling operators now conduct. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) Chairman Joe Saumarez Smith and former MP Laurence Robertson have both recently criticized the UK gambling sector’s strict gambling checks.

Smith spoke about how Betfair suspended his account for nine days after he told a customer service representative that he had cancer. They requested a photo of his debit card, passport, and utility bill, which he sent within 20 minutes.

The operator’s Safer Gambling team took nine days to process everything. Smith said his cancer diagnosis didn’t change his betting patterns at all.

asked him how the £30 loss impacted his life and if it led to him consuming more alcohol

27-year Conservative Party MP Robertson said that he had to answer “crazy questions” from the Bet365 support team despite his net loss for the most recent three-month period being only £30 ($36). They asked him how the £30 loss impacted his life and if it led to him consuming more alcohol or leading to poor sleep.

He decided to speak out after hearing about BHA chair Smith’s comments. Both men believe these stringent measures will hurt the UK gambling sector, leading people to turn to offshore sites.