Committee publication · Correspondence · 10 July 2026
Letter from the Chair to Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, regarding Financial Risk Assessments, 10 July 2026
Summary
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chair writes to the Gambling Commission's Acting CEO seeking clarification on the Commission's 7 July decision to implement Financial Risk Assessments in stages. The letter requests detailed information on the evidence base, impact on consumers, stakeholder engagement, composition of implementation groups, and representation of the racing industry.
Key findings
- Committee seeks publication of full dataset, evidence base, and methodology underpinning Financial Risk Assessments decision and threshold determination
- Requests quantified estimate of impact on recreational bettors regarding document and financial information requests under new versus existing arrangements
- Stakeholders have reported insufficient Gambling Commission engagement during policy development; committee demands detailed account of consultations, meetings, pilots, and stakeholder activities
- Racing industry may lack representation in summer implementation groups; committee asks for rationale and assurance that racing sector views will be considered
- Implementation groups to be established over summer; committee seeks explanation of participation criteria and selection processes
Tone
ProceduralTopics
gambling-regulationconsumer-protectionfinancial-riskstakeholder-engagement
Key actors
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Sarah Gardner, Gambling Commission, Baroness Twycross, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Notable line
“Stakeholders have informed the Committee that there may be no representation from the racing industry within these implementation groups.”
Key Quotes
“Some stakeholders have told the Committee that engagement by the Gambling Commission throughout this process has been insufficient.”
“The Commission has stated that Financial Risk Assessments should reduce the need for document checks for most consumers.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗