Dr James Noyes, one of the key early advocates of affordability checks for online gamblers, has called on Lisa Nandy to tell the Gambling Commission to pause implementation of the controversial measures.
In an open letter sent to the culture secretary on Monday, Noyes said the checks should be halted “until there has been adequate evaluation and scrutiny” of a pilot scheme intended to test how they might work in practice.
The move is a notable intervention in a debate that has been running for some time. It also mirrors pressure from senior figures in the horse racing industry, many of whom have been urging the government to slow the process down.
Those in racing are worried that affordability checks could have a disproportionate impact on racing bettors. Their concern is that punters may choose not to provide financial information to gambling operators, then move to the black market instead.
Industry figures have argued that such a shift could cost racing tens of millions of pounds in income. The issue has become especially sensitive because horse racing is heavily reliant on betting revenue and the wider gambling market.
Noyes’s stance is significant because he has previously been seen as a leading voice in support of the checks. His call for a pause adds to the sense that the policy now faces broader questions over how it would operate in practice and what effect it could have on both consumers and regulated businesses.
The open letter to Nandy focuses attention on the need for more scrutiny before the system is rolled out further. It also strengthens the argument from opponents that the pilot scheme should be examined carefully before any wider implementation is allowed to continue.
Affordability checks have been one of the most contentious elements of gambling reform. Supporters say they are designed to reduce harm and ensure that online gambling remains safer for consumers. Critics, however, have long warned that the checks could be intrusive, inconsistent, or damaging to legitimate betting activity.
The latest intervention suggests that concerns are no longer confined to those who have opposed the measures from the outset. Noyes’s appeal for a pause until proper evaluation has taken place highlights the continuing tension between consumer protection, regulatory enforcement and the economic interests of the racing industry.
For now, the request places renewed pressure on the culture secretary and the Gambling Commission to respond to growing calls for caution. The debate over affordability checks, already long-running, appears set to continue as the pilot scheme is examined and the industry awaits further decisions.
