The UK Gambling Commission has firmly rejected suggestions it failed to properly engage with the racing industry over the planned rollout of financial risk assessments (FRAs).
Acting UKGC CEO Sarah Gardner responded to concerns raised by Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, who wrote seeking clarity on the decision.
Dinenage expressed concern that there “may be no representation from the racing industry” within the implementation groups being formed over the summer to support the rollout of FRAs.
Gardner pushed back strongly, stating that stakeholders across the gambling industry were consulted during the process of forming plans for FRAs, with discussions dating back to 2023.
The Commission confirmed it held talks with racing’s leadership, including the British Horseracing Authority, the Horserace Betting Levy Board, racecourse groups, and other relevant stakeholders.
Gardner also confirmed the regulator briefed the BHA on the same day it informed the wider industry of its decision on FRAs, contradicting suggestions the sector had been left in the dark.
“Having set out the details of our engagement with racing stakeholders on the particular issue of FRAs, I was surprised and disappointed to hear of claims that the Commission has failed to engage with this community and I do not think that such claims are borne out by the facts,” Gardner said.
Gardner addressed the absence of racing bodies from implementation groups directly, clarifying those groups are intended only for gambling operators and credit reference agencies responsible for delivering the checks.
She confirmed the Commission would continue engaging separately with racing industry stakeholders throughout the various phases of implementing the FRA framework.
The FRAs will initially apply to users of the industry’s largest operators aged over 25 who make net deposits exceeding £5,000 during any rolling 24-hour period.
Once fully implemented, the scheme will trigger checks when users make net deposits totalling £1,000 over 24 hours or £3,000 over a 90-day rolling period.
Gardner confirmed the UKGC will publish its full consultation response on FRAs in the autumn, including further details on the evidence, data, and methodology behind the decision to proceed.
She noted the decision to delay publishing the response was made to allow time to account for discussions with implementation groups before finalising the Commission’s approach.
“I am firmly of the view that this was the right decision because it gives stakeholders in the gambling industry, the horseracing industry and, importantly, consumers as much information as we can, as early as we can,” Gardner said.
