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- Most bettors agreed to financial checks
- Lower spenders are more likely to be willing to spend.
- Many people who have not had to face affordability checks yet say that they will refuse.
A majority of those who were asked to prove they could afford to gamble have given it. However, there are many questions about how this will affect things if checks are made mandatory.
An online survey of gamblers by YouGov for OLBG revealed that most of those asked by gambling operators to produce documents, such as bank statements or payslips by their banks, had complied with the request.
Surveying 1,007 bettors, 21.8% had been asked for documents at least once by a bookmaker. These documents were provided by 74.3% of the respondents, while 17.9% refused to provide them and began playing with another licensed operator. 4.1% refused to move to unlicensed operators, while 3.7% quit betting altogether.
However, those who were not asked to provide documentation showed less willingness.
37.3% of the 78.2% punters that had not faced affordability checks said they would refuse to stop betting. 35.0% said they would change to another licensed operator, and 4.1% said that they would go to an unlicensed firm. Only 23.5% said they were willing to provide the documents.
“The majority of bettors who were asked for documents have provided them. Richard Moffat CEO of OLBG, stated that the most important thing about the question was that very few people who were asked to provide documents have stopped gambling or gone to the black markets. This is a result of gambling being more responsible.
“However, there’s a big difference in willingness between those who were asked and those who weren’t.”
The table below shows that 65% of bettors said they were not willing to submit to affordability checks. The least willing to provide financial documents were those who bet less than PS5 per month (75.4%) and 72% respectively for those betting PS6-15 per month (72.2%).
“Very few people are likely to believe it is fair for a bookie asking for proof of their ability to afford it, and it’s surprising how many lower-spending players have already been asked. Moffat said that it is unlikely mandatory checks will be imposed on players below PS100 per month, despite rumours.
Players spend less than PS100 per Month
|
Are you being asked by a casino to produce payslips, bank statements, or other documents in order to prove your financial ability? |
All bettors |
Less Than PS5 |
PS6-15 |
PS16-25 |
PS26-50 |
PS51-100 |
| Base unweighted |
1,007 |
235 |
224 |
147 |
154 |
93 |
| Yes, I have provided all required documents. | 16.16% | 6.00% | 10.08% | 20.86% | 16.55% | 14.27% |
| Yes, but I do not have the documents. I will provide them if requested. | 18.45% | 18.20% | 18.06% | 23.14% | 20.31% | 21.62% |
| Yes, yes, I did. However, I didn’t give the documents. I opted to place a bet with another licensed company. | 3.92% | 0.40% | 1.77% | 4.22% | 4.53% | 6.57% |
| Yes, but I did not provide the documents. Instead, I placed a bet with an unlicensed company. | 0.90% | 0.00% | 0.47% | 0.71% | 1.29% | 1.08% |
| Yes, but I did not provide the documents. I stopped betting. | 0.79% | 0.00% | 0.43% | 0.70% | 1.94% | 1.10% |
| I don’t have the documents, and if I was asked, I would not provide them. I would rather bet with another licensed company. | 27.40% | 20.40% | 31.52% | 24.80% | 35.25% | 38.36% |
| I don’t have the documents, and if I was asked, I would not provide them. I would rather bet with an unlicensed business instead | 3.20% | 1.30% | 3.57% | 4.17% | 3.27% | 1.11% |
| Yes, I haven’t and I wouldn’t bet if I was asked. | 29.18% | 53.60% | 34.10% | 21.40% | 16.86% | 15.88% |
|
Total willing to provide documents |
34.61% |
24.20% |
28.14% |
44.00% |
36.86% |
35.89% |
|
Total refusing to provide documents |
65.39% |
75.70% |
71.86% |
56.00% |
63.14% |
64.10% |
Players spend more than PS100 per Month
|
Are you being asked by a casino to produce payslips, bank statements, or other documents in order to prove your financial ability? |
All bettors |
PS101-200 |
PS201-300 |
PS301-500 |
PS501-1000 |
| Unweighted Base |
1,007 |
57 |
16 |
16 |
20 |
| Yes, I have provided all required documents. | 16.16% | 30.04% | 31.87% | 50.63% | 40.65% |
| Yes, but I do not have the documents. I will provide them if requested. | 18.45% | 19.41% | 12.94% | 0.00% | 4.79% |
| Yes, yes, I did. However, I didn’t give the documents. I opted to place a bet with another licensed company. | 3.92% | 12.40% | 6.73% | 0.00% | 15.35% |
| Yes, but I did not provide the documents. Instead, I placed a bet with an unlicensed company. | 0.90% | 1.77% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Yes, but I did not provide the documents. I stopped betting. | 0.79% | 1.70% | 0.00% | 6.45% | 0.00% |
| No, I don’t have the documents. If asked, I would not provide them and instead suggest that you use a different licensed company. | 27.40% | 24.19% | 36.36% | 30.49% | 28.90% |
| No, I don’t have the documents. If asked, I would not provide them and instead suggest that you place your bets with an unlicensed business. | 3.20% | 5.19% | 12.10% | 6.45% | 5.12% |
| Yes, I haven’t and I wouldn’t bet if I was asked. | 29.18% | 5.31% | 0.00% | 5.98% | 5.20% |
|
Total willing to provide documents |
34.61% |
49.45% |
44.81% |
50.63% |
45.44% |
|
Total unwilling to provide documents |
65.39% |
50.56% |
55.19% |
49.37% |
54.57% |
* Players who spend more than PS1,000 per monthly were not included as the numbers were too small for statistical significance.
However, although players who spend more per month seem to be more willing to go through affordability checks, only half of those who spend PS100 or more per month were open to affordability checks.
There was a big difference in players who spend less than PS5 and players who spend more than PS100. This was because players are more likely to stop gambling if they are asked. Only 5.31% of the PS101-200 monthly players said that they would not gamble if confronted with affordability checks. However, 53.6% said they bet less than PS5 and only 5.3% said the same.
Players with higher spending were more likely than others to move to another licensed company, but players of all spending levels reported that they would be willing to provide documentation if requested.
“Many players either reported having moved to another licensed operator already or willing to do so due to affordability checks.” Moffat said that there are many questions about what will happen if affordability checks are made mandatory by all licensed operators and imposed at specific levels.
It was also revealed that younger players were more likely to agree to financial checks. A third (33.34%), of the 18-24-year-olds said they were asked for documents and 22.86% stated they would submit them. The percentage of 55-plus players reporting the same dropped to 6.40%, and 15.37%, respectively.
The full survey report contains more details about this breakdown, as well as other findings regarding the UK’s gambling habits.
