Gambling Commission’s Tim Miller Warns of Growing Divide Over Financial Risk Assessment Policy

The Gambling Commission faces a widening gap between its regulatory vision and how the industry’s actually receiving it, according to executive director Tim Miller, who flagged the disconnect during his final major speech at iGB Live this week. With his departure announced, Miller doubled down on the regulator’s commitment to financial risk assessments, despite sustained operator pushback and a May delay to full implementation.

Pilots reveal what operators miss

Miller told the iGB Live audience that the Commission’s FRA pilot had identified a cohort of players in arrears that existing operator processes were failing to catch. This finding, he suggested, vindicated the policy’s core purpose: targeting higher-spending customers showing signs of genuine financial distress, not blanket affordability barriers.

The pilot’s design has shifted considerably. When it launched in August 2024, tier one operators triggered checks at a net monthly deposit threshold of £500. By February 2025, that had dropped to £150 or above. By mid-year, the Commission reported that 97% of checks in the second phase were deemed “frictionless” by operators.

None of this quieted the critics, though. Industry concerns centred on friction, implementation costs, and whether FRAs genuinely served consumer protection or just repackaged affordability checks under a new name. The backlash proved substantial enough that the Commission delayed its full rollout decision in May.

A policy under siege

Miller’s frustration with the discourse was palpable. “A lot of people have forgotten the purpose of the policy,” he said, emphasising that FRAs leverage reference agency data to identify financial hardship signals without impeding the customer journey. He suggested that proper implementation would actually smooth rather than hinder user experience.

On timing, Miller offered little comfort to either camp. The regulator’s absorbed criticism from both directions: some accuse it of moving too hastily, others of moving too slowly. “We’ve taken our time deliberately,” Miller noted, pointing out that international regulatory peers are watching closely to see how the Commission navigates this balance.

Black market threats loom larger

Beyond FRAs, Miller used his platform to escalate warnings about the illegal gambling sector, reserving particular criticism for major technology companies. He accused tech giants of “failing British consumers” by failing to act with sufficient urgency against black market operators and their marketing reach.

His call for stronger due diligence resonated particularly when directed at operators’ supply chains. Affiliates and B2B suppliers, he suggested, represent a significant vector for illegal market promotion. Most operators have tightened controls, though Miller singled out Entain’s Simon Zinger as demonstrating the kind of proactive stance needed industry-wide.

The message was clear: without coordinated, rigorous supplier vetting and external pressure on platforms enabling black market advertising, the illegal sector’s advantage will only grow.