Julie Harrington, CEO of BHA, finds interim gambling code encouraging but worries about uncertainty in levy review.

The UK government plans to implement new rules to replace the existing checks carried out by gambling operators with uniform standards featuring higher thresholds. These changes are intended to be more consistent with the requirements set forth in the white paper proposals. Under the new interim code, individuals who make net deposits of more than £25,000 in a rolling 12-month period will be required to provide financial documents to prove their ability to afford their gambling. Additionally, operators will conduct a risk assessment when a customer wishes to deposit more than £5,000 in a rolling month to determine whether there is evidence of gambling harm.

Despite offers and counter-offers between racing and betting, the ministers have asked for a voluntary agreement, but one has not been reached. The development of a new AML (anti-money laundering) code is also ongoing and has not been completed. The aim is to ensure the checks do not catch bettors spending at much lower levels than the affordability thresholds. Harrington expressed concerns about the government’s review of the levy, which was promised more than a year ago.

Additionally, there is a need for new rules on anti-money laundering checks to be established swiftly to prevent racing bettors from being entangled in separate requests for financial documents. There is a collaborative effort to work with the secretary of state Lucy Frazer and sports minister Stuart Andrew to secure a review of the levy to ensure sustainable funding for Britain’s second most-watched sport, safeguarding jobs and serving as an economic lifeline in rural communities.