Gamblers Consumer Forum Opposes Government Affordability Checks

In a recent development, the Gamblers Consumer Forum has taken a strong stand against the government's proposal for affordability checks, emphasizing their ineffectiveness in curbing problem gambling. Despite fair support for these measures as a preventive strategy, the Forum has gathered 100,000 signatures opposing the initiative.

The Forum recently engaged with representatives of the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) in discussions, but the meeting reached a stalemate, providing no resolution. The Forum argues that affordability checks must be seamlessly integrated, as initially promised by the government, and presents evidence suggesting the impossibility of implementing fully frictionless checks.

The Forum contends that the government's backing lacks understanding and concrete evidence supporting the efficacy of affordability checks in reducing harmful gambling levels. Despite the UK Gambling Commission's recent methodology shift indicating higher problem gambling levels, the regulator emphasizes the incompatibility of these results with previous datasets, questioning the effectiveness of current affordability checks.

To bolster their case, the Forum is actively gathering evidence from consumers who find the affordability check process cumbersome and unnecessarily complicated. The organization insists that the current methodology is misplaced and unlikely to improve the situation. While opposition to affordability checks is growing, the Forum acknowledges the possibility of refining these checks for future effectiveness.