UK regulator highlights progress on financial risk checks and illegal market crackdown at Ethical Gambling Forum

Tim Miller, Executive Director of the UK Gambling Commission, delivered a keynote address at the Ethical Gambling Forum on April 28, 2026, marking the first edition of the event held in Great Britain.

Speaking to an international audience, Miller emphasized the need to balance innovation with consumer protection in a fast-evolving gambling landscape. While highlighting the sector’s competitive and forward-looking nature, he reiterated that regulation should support compliant innovation aligned with licensing objectives.

A central focus of the speech was the implementation of reforms stemming from the Gambling Act Review White Paper 2023. Miller provided an update on Financial Risk Assessments, one of the key remaining measures, clarifying misconceptions and presenting findings from a recent pilot program.

According to the Commission, fewer than 3% of active accounts would trigger an assessment, with 97% of those processed frictionlessly. Only around 0.1% of accounts would be unable to complete the process without friction, significantly below earlier estimates. Miller stressed that these checks are not spending caps or affordability assessments, but targeted measures to identify financially vulnerable consumers.

He also noted that the pilot revealed gaps in current systems, with high-risk customers often going undetected. The proposed framework, developed in collaboration with the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, aims to replace outdated and intrusive document requests with streamlined credit reference data checks.

Beyond regulatory reforms, Miller addressed the growing challenge of illegal gambling. Backed by £26 million in government funding, the Commission is intensifying enforcement efforts and contributing to a national risk assessment through a dedicated taskforce. Recent actions include hundreds of cease-and-desist notices and the removal or disruption of thousands of illegal websites.

Looking ahead, Miller confirmed that further decisions on financial risk checks will be taken by the Commission’s Board, with implementation—if approved—developed in collaboration with government, industry stakeholders, and credit agencies.

He also pointed to upcoming regulatory developments, including changes to gaming machine compliance rules set to take effect in July 2026, and ongoing work to review broader regulatory burdens and support innovation, including potential use of cryptoassets in licensed gambling.

Concluding his address, Miller called for stronger collaboration across the industry and international partners to ensure a gambling market that remains innovative, competitive, and firmly grounded in consumer safety.