TLDR
- Tim Miller flagged a “disconnect” between the Gambling Commission and operators over financial risk assessments (FRAs).
- The FRA pilot found a group of players in arrears that operators’ own checks were missing.
- Miller said the policy is meant to focus on higher-spending customers showing signs of financial distress.
- The Gambling Commission delayed its decision on full FRA implementation back in May.
- Miller, who is leaving the Commission after ten years, said tech firms are failing UK consumers by not acting fast enough against illegal gambling sites.
Tim Miller, an executive director at the Gambling Commission, spoke at iGB Live in London on Wednesday. He addressed the ongoing debate over financial risk assessments, known as FRAs.
Miller said there is a disconnect between the regulator and the gambling industry over the policy. He made the comment after facing pushback from operators in recent months.
What the FRA Pilot Found
FRAs were first proposed in the Gambling Act review white paper. Some in the industry initially described them as rebranded affordability checks.
The Gambling Commission launched a pilot scheme in August 2024. A number of tier one operators took part in the trial.
The first phase triggered extra checks when a player’s net monthly deposit reached £500. A second phase, starting in February 2025, lowered that threshold to £150.
In May 2025, the Commission said 97% of checks in the pilot’s second half were considered frictionless. Miller said the trial flagged players in arrears that operators’ own systems had missed.
“We want to focus on those,” Miller told the audience. He said the goal is to target higher-spending customers who show signs of financial distress.
The Commission delayed its decision on full FRA implementation in May. Miller said the regulator has been criticized for both moving too slowly and acting too fast.
“We’ve taken our time deliberately,” Miller said. He added that regulators in other countries are watching closely to see what the UK decides.
Miller said data from reference agencies gives a clear picture of financial distress without disrupting the customer experience. He said proper implementation would smooth the process rather than get in the way.
Miller on the Illegal Gambling Market
Miller also spoke about the illegal gambling market during his appearance. He said tech companies are failing UK consumers by not acting quickly enough.
He said these companies are too slow to restrict black market sites and their advertising. He called for enforcement teams to build networks as strong as those run by criminal operators.
Affiliates and B2B suppliers were named as a large part of the problem. Miller said operators need to check their partners for any links to illegal sites.
He praised some companies for leading the fight against illegal operators. He named Entain’s Simon Zinger as doing strong work in this area.
Miller announced his departure from the Gambling Commission this week after ten years at the organization. He said more details on his exit and the FRA timeline will come in September.
He said he wants to finish several policy projects before he leaves. A final decision on FRAs has no set date yet.
