Gambling Commission rejects claims of poor engagement in horse racing sector row

Growing concern about the Gambling Commission’s forthcoming financial risk assessments (FRAs) has prompted renewed scrutiny from both government and the racing industry, with tensions escalating over the regulator’s approach to stakeholder engagement and transparency.

A written parliamentary question submitted on 14 July 2026 asked ministers what assessment had been made of the potential impact of FRAs on the horse racing sector. The question reflects unease among MPs and industry bodies that the checks—designed to identify bettors in financial difficulty—could reduce betting participation and weaken racing’s core funding model, which relies heavily on betting turnover.

The intervention came shortly after the Commission published updated material on the phased rollout of FRAs, including survey findings and regulatory updates. The regulator maintains that most customers will never trigger a check and that assessments will be frictionless, relying on credit reference data rather than intrusive documentation. Racing organisations, however, argue that even low‑friction checks risk deterring responsible bettors, particularly those who place intermittent higher‑value bets.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMSC) has pressed the Commission for clarity on the evidence base behind FRAs and questioned why racing is not represented in the implementation groups overseeing delivery. Industry bodies have repeatedly warned that the absence of racing from these groups undermines confidence in the process and fails to reflect the sector’s economic dependence on betting activity.

In response to the committee’s questions, the Commission’s acting chief executive, Sarah Gardner, said she was “surprised and disappointed” by claims that the regulator had not engaged with racing. Gardner stated that the Commission had engaged “extensively” with racing stakeholders and emphasised that implementation groups were intended for detailed operational discussions involving operators and credit reference agencies. She confirmed that a further meeting with racing representatives had been arranged and reiterated the Commission’s commitment to constructive engagement, citing the “symbiotic relationship” between racing and betting.

Despite this, racing leaders—including BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea—remain dissatisfied. Dunshea voiced concern that the Commission has not published all the evidence underpinning its decision to proceed with FRAs and called for significantly improved communication. Operators have also urged the Commission to release data from its pilot of affordability checks, arguing that the measures may not be as frictionless as promised and could still require customers to provide personal financial documents.

Gardner told the committee that the full dataset, evidence base and methodology would not be published until the autumn, and that some information would be aggregated due to commercial sensitivities. She also warned that operators may still need to request documents from customers for other regulatory purposes, such as anti‑money laundering obligations, meaning FRAs “will not and cannot eliminate all document checks”.

Ministers have not yet responded to the parliamentary question, but the issue is now firmly on the Government’s agenda as the Commission continues its staged implementation and racing organisations seek greater transparency, representation and assurance that the new checks will not disproportionately affect responsible bettors or the wider racing economy.