UK sets out a staged rollout of financial risk assessments
After its pilot, the Gambling Commission confirmed frictionless affordability checks would start with the largest operators at a GBP 5,000 net-deposit trigger, with lower thresholds intended later.
What happened
In a July 2026 update the Gambling Commission set out how it will introduce Financial Risk Assessments following the pilot that ran after the 2023 white paper. Under the staged approach, Stage 1 applies only to the largest operators and triggers when a customer’s net deposits reach GBP 5,000 in a rolling 24 hours (GBP 2,500 for under-25s). The intended final-state thresholds are lower - GBP 1,000 in 24 hours or GBP 3,000 over 90 days for over-25s (GBP 750 or GBP 2,000 for under-25s). The assessments are designed to be frictionless, drawing on credit reference agency data with no impact on a customer’s credit score. The start date for Stage 1 is to be confirmed in the Commission’s formal consultation response.
What it means
This is the outcome of the long-running affordability debate. A financial risk assessment is not a credit check the customer sees or fails in the usual sense: it is a behind-the-scenes data check on the small number of customers with the highest deposits, meant to flag financial vulnerability without disrupting most players. Because it is staged and not yet in force, the numbers here describe the current stated direction rather than a settled rule; the trigger thresholds and start date can still move in the consultation response.
Who it affects
The largest GB-facing operators first, then the wider market as later stages lower the thresholds; their compliance and data teams; and higher-spending customers, whose deposits above the trigger prompt a background check.
Sources
Primary sources last checked 8 August 2026.