Betting Brits could be forced to surrender payslips to gambling regulators

BRITS who fancy a flutter could be forced to surrender their payslips to snooping gambling regulators, The Sun can reveal.

The Gambling Commission wants punters who bet and lose more than £100 a month to undergo “affordability checks” and be placed on a “gambling register” so their outgoings can be tracked.

Brits who fancy a flutter could be forced to surrender their payslips to snooping gambling regulators, The Sun can revealPA

Critics slammed the plan, with one saying: “Only nonces should end up on registers – not poker players.”

The furious source added: “This will be a database of gamblers.

“Anyone who spends anything will get logged and ends up on a register.

“If you lost more than £100 you’d have to share bank statements, so they can decide if you can afford to do it.

“What next? A register of alcohol spent to stop people binge drinking?

A shopping register to stop people overspending and getting into debt?”

Whitehall insiders said there were no immediate plans to create a database of every bet placed by punters.

They also said the proposals would create a legal nightmare with the proposals also thought to be in breach of data laws.

But the Gambling Commission is understood to be considering after calling for evidence ahead of the government gambling review later this year.

But government insiders said they would push back on any plans to have a centrally held file on all gamblers.

NO IMMEDIATE PLANS

Gaming minister John Whittingdale hinted at the measures last month in a debate with MPs.

He said: “We are looking at whether further controls for play online would be effective in preventing gambling harm, including whether greater controls are needed at an account or product level.

The minister added: “We are also working closely with the Gambling Commission on its parallel work to improve how operators interact with customers and we will ensure that any new checks that they introduce to increase protections for those who are financially vulnerable, binge gambling or losing significant amounts over time harmonise with the aims of our own review.”

The Gambling Commission did not respond to a request to comment.

Gaming minister John Whittingdale hinted at the measures last month in a debate with MPspixel8000