Departing GC Executive Tim Miller Addresses Financial Risk Assessment Divides and Illegal Market Concerns

Tim Miller, Executive Director at the Gambling Commission (GC), utilized his platform at iGB Live on Wednesday to discuss significant policy matters, including the ongoing debate around Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) and the persistent challenge of the illegal gambling market, shortly after announcing his departure from the regulator.

Miller acknowledged a clear "disconnect" between the GC and the iGaming industry concerning the proposed FRAs, following considerable industry pushback. He explained that a pilot scheme for FRAs, initiated in August 2024, revealed a segment of players in financial distress that operators' current systems were failing to identify. "We want to focus on those," Miller stated, emphasizing the policy's objective. Initially labeled by some in the sector as merely "rebranded affordability checks," these assessments were first outlined in the Gambling Act review white paper.

The pilot involved several tier one operators, triggering light-touch checks when a player's net monthly deposits reached £500. A subsequent phase, commencing in February 2025, lowered this threshold to £150 or more. By May 2025, the Commission reported that an overwhelming 97% of checks performed during the latter half of the pilot were considered "frictionless." However, a period of "targeted attack" against the policy led the Commission to postpone its decision on full implementation in May 2025.

Miller reiterated the core intention behind FRAs, asserting, "I think a lot of people have forgotten the purpose of the policy in the white paper. It’s about being really focused upon higher-spending customers where there is evidence of financial distress." He suggested that insights gained from credit reference agencies could illuminate financial distress without disrupting the customer journey, adding, "I think it will do the opposite as long as they are implemented properly." While a precise timeline for full FRA implementation remains undetermined, Miller noted the Commission's deliberate pace, citing criticisms for both haste and delay, and highlighting the global interest from other regulatory bodies in the UK's approach: "We’ve taken our time deliberately. Regulatory peers around the world are very keen to see what we do on this."

Beyond FRAs, Miller addressed the growing threat of the illegal gambling market. He criticized major technology companies, suggesting they are "failing British consumers" by not acting swiftly enough to suppress black market websites and their associated marketing efforts. Miller urged those combating illicit operations to foster connections as robust as those within criminal networks. He specifically identified affiliates and B2B suppliers as a "big part of the problem," calling on operators to conduct thorough due diligence on their partners to ensure no ties to the black market. He did, however, commend certain operators for their proactive stance, singling out Entain’s Simon Zinger as "impressive" for his contributions in this area.