Affordability Checks Explained

An affordability check asks a simple question: can this customer sustain the amount they are gambling? The idea is to spot people who may be spending beyond their means before serious harm occurs. This guide explains how the checks work, with a focus on Great Britain where the rules are most developed, and how other countries compare. It is for adults in the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada and Australia.

The rules here have changed several times and are still changing. Treat the figures below as a snapshot and check the regulator’s website for the latest position.

Why the checks exist

High spending is not the same as high income. Before these checks, a customer could stake large amounts in a short time with no one asking whether the money was affordable. The Gambling Commission introduced financial checks so that operators would notice customers who may be in financial difficulty, and respond in a proportionate way.

A check is not a judgement and not a ban. In most cases the operator is expected to respond with support, such as deposit limits, and not to close an account automatically.

Stage one: light-touch financial vulnerability checks

Since 30 August 2024, most licensed remote operators in Great Britain have had to run a light-touch financial vulnerability check when a customer’s net deposits pass a trigger. From 28 February 2025 the trigger has been £150 in net deposits within a rolling 30 days. Net deposits means deposits minus withdrawals.

A worked example shows how this works:

• Deposits in 30 days: £200 + £100 = £300.
• Withdrawals in the same period: £120.
• Net deposits: £300 – £120 = £180, which is above £150.

The check uses public records only, such as bankruptcy orders, county court judgments, individual voluntary arrangements and debt relief orders. Personal details such as postcode or job title are not needed. The check is designed to be frictionless, so play continues unless a risk flag appears. It does not need to be repeated within 12 months. It does not affect your credit score, although a check by a third party can show on your own credit report.

Stage two: financial risk assessments

In July 2026 the Commission announced a staged rollout of deeper financial risk assessments. They use credit reference data, supplied through credit reference agencies, and do not usually need documents from the customer. Operators receive an overall assessment and four data points: defaults, multiple arrears, significant arrears, and whether the customer has a debt management plan.

The triggers announced for the first stage apply to the largest operators only and start at £5,000 in net deposits in a rolling 24 hours for customers aged 25 and over, and £2,500 for under-25s. Interim stages are still to be set. The final stage is planned to be lower: for people aged 25 and over, more than £1,000 in 24 hours or £3,000 over 90 days, and for under-25s, more than £750 or £2,000. At the time of the July announcement no start date for stage one had been set, and the Commission said it would not take enforcement action over failure to act after an assessment during early implementation.

Most customers will never be assessed. The Commission expects fewer than 3% of accounts to need one once fully in place.

What operators may ask for

• Frictionless check: no action from you at all.
• Identity verification: if a credit check cannot be run, you may need to prove who you are.
• Open banking or documents: a small group may be asked to share bank data or statements.
• Source of funds: payslips or similar, usually only if wider risk indicators appear.

The Commission has said routine document checks after an assessment serve no regulatory purpose. See identity checks (KYC) explained for the separate identity process.

Your rights and privacy

• Credit reference data may only be used for the regulatory purpose and must not be used commercially.
• You can ask the operator what information it holds about you. See data privacy for gamblers.
• If you disagree with a decision, use the operator’s complaints process, then an approved dispute route. See how gambling complaints and disputes work.
• An operator limiting your account is a separate issue; see account restrictions and stake limits.

Rules by country

• United Kingdom: the rules above apply to licensed remote operators in Great Britain, and the details are still being phased in.
• United States: regulated state by state. Identity and location checks are common, but UK-style credit-based affordability checks are not a national requirement.
• Ireland: the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is rolling out licensing, betting first. Credit-funded gambling is banned under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
• Canada: provinces regulate, with age 19 in most and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Players are protected mainly through limits and self-exclusion tools.
• Australia: online casino games and pokies are prohibited for people in Australia. Credit cards and digital currency have been banned for licensed online wagering since June 2024.

What you can do yourself

You do not need to wait for a check. A budget and a record of what you spend are useful tools, and the free spend tracker helps with tracking. Bankroll management for beginners covers budgeting. A budget does not reliably prevent harm, though. If gambling is causing money worries, stopping, self-exclusion and professional support may be needed, and free debt advice and helplines are available in every country covered here.

The bottom line

Affordability checks aim to find customers whose gambling may be beyond their means and to prompt support, not to punish. In Great Britain they started with a light check at modest net deposits and are moving to credit-reference-based assessments at higher levels. Expect most checks to be invisible and know what data may be used. A personal budget is one useful tool, but it does not reliably prevent harm, so stopping, exclusion and professional support matter too.

Sources

• Gambling Commission: Our position on light-touch financial vulnerability checks (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)
• Gambling Commission: Commission to introduce Financial Risk Assessments in staged approach (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)
• Gambling Commission: Financial risk assessments update, July 2026 (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)
• Gambling Commission: Key issues and our expectations concerning account withdrawals (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)

18+ only (21 in most US states, 19 in most Canadian provinces for casino and betting). Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available: Great Britain: England and Scotland 0808 8020 133, Wales 0808 2819 265 (free, 24 hours), and GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk); US: National Problem Gambling Helpline 1-800-MY-RESET (the older 1-800-522-4700 also works); Australia: Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858 and BetStop (betstop.gov.au); Ontario, Canada: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600; Ireland: speak to your GP or the HSE. Never gamble money you need for living costs.