Leading figures from the British racing industry have put their names to an open letter sent to Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, calling for affordability checks to be scrapped.
The letter, published in The Sun on Tuesday, sums up the extent to which the sport's hierarchy is concerned regarding the impending introduction of the checks, which are being signed off by the Gambling Commission.
Estimates from the Betting and Gaming Council recently stated that as many as 120,000 people could be asked to provide documents to prove their identity if they are brought in.
The letter read, “It was the last Conservative government that proposed affordability checks as part of its gambling policy to make betting fit for the digital age.
“While the intention was sensible, the delivery has failed. Instead of making it easier and safer for people to have that flutter, regulatory changes have only made it harder.
“Little wonder then that growing numbers of people are now betting illegally rather than be subjected to intrusive checks more appropriate for securing a mortgage than engaging in a legal pastime enjoyed by millions of Britons.”
The letter continued, “Your government demonstrated it recognised this risk when the Chancellor used her Budget to give the Gambling Commission £26m to tackle the burgeoning betting black market. Adding a further layer of regulation right now would be at best a grave misjudgement and, at worst, a gift to the criminal underworld that benefits from these illegal betting operations.
“The landscape has changed since your government took office and it is time for us all to work together to find a better solution.
“It is not too late for you to reconsider the unintended consequences of your predecessor's policies and “Save Our Bets” to secure British horseracing's future.”
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