There is one aspect I love about this industry. It provides a perfect example in 2023 of what media manipulation, corruption, propaganda, hidden agendas, misaligned incentives and sheer incompetence look like. There in our faces everyday.
Let’s have a look at some of the recent headlines from the Racing Post.
The £40 million blow: how affordability checks are already hitting horseracing.
Intrusive affordability checks are ‘top of the list’ says punters’ body chairman.
Affordability checks a ‘massive problem’ for Cheltenham Festival punters.
‘Hugely worrying’ – Stuart Williams warns industry over affordability checks.
John Gosden fears affordability checks and black market could ‘spell disaster’ for racing.
Punters barred from betting shops after failing to meet affordability demands.
£800 million impact of affordability checks ‘tip of the iceberg’ for racing.
‘Hours and hours wasted’ – the punters already affected by affordability checks.
Ed Chamberlin: racing cannot afford to lose punters caught up in affordability checks.
‘I’m very close to giving up’ – the punters suffering from affordability checks.
Group 1-winning owners reveal ‘deep concern’ over impact of affordability checks.
‘Enough is enough’ – punters detail their frustration with intrusive checks.
‘Out of control’ regulator told to leave affordability checks to gambling review.
Black market betting a ‘significant threat’ as a result of affordability checks, survey reveals.
Black market sites ‘having a field day’, MP claims.
Gambling Commission claims black market risks are ‘being overstated’.
Inside the black market: big bonuses, personal managers and no safeguards.
Top bloodstock agent admits to betting on black market because of affordability checks.
‘Without doubt, people going in the direction of the black market to bet would spell disaster’.
BGC issues stark warning after use of black market sites found to have doubled.
Minister rebukes Gambling Commission over intrusive affordability checks.
The headline today after the surveys results were published; ‘The Big Punting Survey: one in six have already been hit with affordability checks’.
That was the most important conclusion that the Racing Post came to. The survey saw 10400 people questioned across both the UK and Ireland. You already have an incredibly captive audience given who the survey was aimed at. Despite that only 16.6% of people have been asked to ‘carry out an affordability check by a bookmaker’. Bear in mind that when a bookmaker asks you for information they dont say that we are asking this because of Affordability Checks. Unquestionably, some of that 16% will have been KYC and other checks implemented by the bookmaker for their own benefit. Given the impending doom we are being told about and that this audience is who it is, that is not a crazy number at all. That number goes down to 7.7% when being asked if more than one account was subject to Affordability Checks. Anyone would think a punter has the ability to just switch to a different bookmaker if they are asked for things they don’t want to provide.
Two other interesting results. ‘Have you used the Black Market in the last 12 months?’ The number who answered ‘Yes’ was 3.6%. That’s right. 3.6%. No decimal places in the wrong place. 3.6%. That significant threat.
The next interesting question. Have you had restrictions applied to a betting account in the past year? 34.8% said ‘Yes’ although that did include 9.2% who had account restrictions from longer ago. Interesting and just not surprising. I have posted multiple tweets on these subjects in recent weeks calling bullshit on the narrative we were being sold. Whether that be the impact of Affordability Checks over account restrictions. Whether it be the impact of the Black Market. Even here the Racing Post goes with its one in six hit by AC headline. They could have gone with ‘Only 3.6% of punters are actually using the Black Market’ or ‘More than one in three punters impacted by account restrictions’. That doesn’t suit their agenda though. In fact the numbers about Restrictions and the Black Market are almost squirreled away and barely mentioned.
It has been fascinating to watch the whole industry click into gear in recent weeks as they fear that more heavy handed regulation might come their way. We have had the relentless media campaign from the Racing Post whose incentives are clear as day. Other media outlets spinning the same narrative. We have had Ministers delivering keynote speeches at the BGC conferences. You name it, we have seen it. I like that the Racing Post has highlighted the issues of Affordability Checks. It needed to be done. The way it has been done though leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth. The agenda there for all to see. Jump through hoops for your paymasters.
Affordability Checks and the disconnect between Bookmakers and Regulators needs to be resolved. The lack of clarity sums up the industry. The way the issue has been approached and how, is almost comical. The Racing Post has systematically failed the punter and the industry as a whole over the last 20 years. Millington and now Kerr have overseen a daily newspaper become nothing more than a mouthpiece and hype machine for the bookmaking industry. When racing is on its knees never forget the role these two have played in its demise.
I will leave with one headline from the esteemed Tom Kerr.
‘Out of control Gambling Commission is either clueless or treating us with contempt’.
Not an unfair headline for once. It’s ironic though as that very headline would suffice nicely if we swap the words Gambling Commission for Racing Post.
‘Out of control Racing Post is either clueless or treating us with contempt’.
Take your pick as to the answer.
ProPunting 