Financial risk checks explained

Two kinds of financial risk checks, and which one is live

People use "financial risk checks" for two different things, and the difference matters. One is a light, public-record check that every operator has had to run since 2024. The other is a deeper, credit-reference assessment that the Gambling Commission tested in a pilot and hasn't switched on.

The rest of this page takes each in turn. For where these checks sit among the other rules, see our UK rules for casino apps hub.

How the financial vulnerability check works

Under LCCP 3.4.4 (opens in a new tab), when a customer's deposits minus withdrawals go over the threshold in any rolling 30-day period, the operator must check public records for signs of financial vulnerability. The records named include bankruptcy, county court judgments (CCJs), individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) and debt relief orders (DROs).

The threshold began at £500 on 30 August 2024 and fell to £150 on 28 February 2025. An operator doesn't have to repeat the check at the threshold if it has already carried out a check or assessment on that customer in the previous 12 months.

What happens next depends on what the check finds and on the operator's wider duty to act on signs of harm, which is set out in the customer interaction rules. For most people the check finds nothing and they never hear about it.

Net deposits and the £150 threshold: worked examples

Net deposits are what you've paid in minus what you've taken out, measured over a rolling 30 days rather than a calendar month. Here's how that plays out with simple numbers.

The rolling window matters. A £100 deposit made 35 days ago has dropped out of the calculation, while one made 29 days ago still counts. And because the threshold is net, a withdrawal brings the figure down, which is why the third example stays under.

How to see your own net position

1. Open the casino app and find your account or transaction history.
2. Filter or scroll to the last 30 days of deposits and withdrawals.
3. Add up deposits, then subtract withdrawals.
4. Compare it with what you planned to spend. UK rules also require games to show your net position while you play.
5. If the number surprises you, lower your deposit limit straight away; decreases take effect immediately.

Our guide to checking your net deposits in an app and the answer on how to see how much you've lost go into more detail.

Financial risk assessments: the pilot that isn't live

The deeper check is the financial risk assessment. It would use credit-reference data to look at the financial situation of roughly the top 3% of spenders. The Commission set up a pilot under LCCP 3.4.6 (opens in a new tab), running from 30 August 2024 to 31 March 2025 (extendable to 30 April 2025), with operators in fee categories J1, K1 and L1 and the three credit reference agencies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

A preliminary update in February 2025 found about 95% of assessments in the first stage were frictionless, meaning the customer wouldn't have noticed. The post-pilot analysis published on 16 April 2026 put that at 97%, said fewer than 3% of active accounts would trigger any operator steps, and confirmed that no consumer had action taken against them on the basis of an assessment.

As of October 2026 there's no decision to implement them. The findings have gone to the Commission's Board. You can read the Commission's post-pilot analysis (opens in a new tab) for the detail.

If anyone tells you a casino app is running a credit check on you under a new 2026 rule, that's not right. The credit-reference assessment was a pilot and isn't in force.

Why financial risk checks aren't "affordability checks"

"Affordability checks" is a phrase you'll see in headlines. The Commission says the label is inaccurate and that it has no plans for affordability checks; its own financial risk checks update (opens in a new tab) uses the terms set out on this page. A financial vulnerability check looks for public-record signs of serious money trouble. It doesn't decide what you can afford or set a personal spending cap.

Some of the confusion comes from the 2023 white paper, High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age (opens in a new tab). It proposed light checks at £125 net loss in a month or £500 in a year, and enhanced checks at £1,000 net loss in 24 hours or £2,000 in 90 days, with the figures halved for 18 to 24-year-olds. Those numbers were proposals only and were never brought in. Our white paper page tracks what did and didn't happen.

Other reasons a casino app may ask about your finances

A financial vulnerability check is usually silent. If an app asks you directly for documents about money, it's more likely to be for one of two other reasons the Commission describes.

• Anti-money laundering: operators may ask for bank statements to confirm your source of funds is legitimate.
• Social responsibility: they may ask about your income or circumstances to spot signs you could be gambling money you don't have. Information can include bank statements or details of irregular income, such as a pending house sale.

These requests sit alongside the standard identity checks every operator must complete before you gamble. Our guide to what documents casino apps ask for explains each type.

What financial risk checks mean for you in a casino app

In practice, most players notice nothing. The public-record check happens in the background, and the pilot assessments were designed to be frictionless. Where you might notice something is if the operator decides it needs more information or takes a step to reduce harm.

That could be a request for information, a conversation with the safer gambling team or, in more serious cases, limits on the account. The rules set the outcome, not the screens, so how it looks differs between Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO. Our answer on why a casino app account gets locked covers what to do if your account is restricted.

The most useful thing you can do is stay ahead of it. A deposit limit you've chosen is a far better guide to your spending than a regulator's threshold, and a budget plan like the one in our budgeting for casino apps guide keeps gambling in the entertainment column.

What the financial risk check rules don't do

The financial vulnerability check doesn't cap what you can deposit, doesn't stop you gambling on its own, and isn't a credit score. It's one signal among many that operators must use under their customer interaction duties, alongside spend, time and behaviour.

It also doesn't replace the money rules you control yourself. The credit card ban stops borrowed card money reaching operators, the deposit limit prompt before your first deposit lets you set a ceiling, and bank gambling blocks can stop payments altogether.

Financial risk checks timeline

Casino apps with welcome offers and spending tools

The apps below are licensed by the Gambling Commission, so they run financial vulnerability checks and prompt you to set a deposit limit before your first deposit. The welcome offers need a £10 qualifying deposit or spend, which is well under the £150 threshold on its own, but every deposit counts towards your net figure. 18+ and terms apply.

• Coral Casino: bet £10 on slots, get 100 free spins. 18+, new players, offer runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 or more on slots; the 100 spins are on selected games at 10p each, must be accepted within 48 hours and are valid for 7 days. No wagering on free spin winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
• Ladbrokes Casino: play £10 on slots, get up to 500 free spins. 18+, new customers. Deposit and spend £10 or more on slots for 50 free spins a day over your first 10 days (500 maximum), 10p each on selected games, claimed before 23:59 each day and valid for 7 days. No wagering. Deposits by prepaid card, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers don't qualify.
• PlayOJO: 80 free spins with no wagering. 18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland; first deposit of £10 or more. The 80 spins are on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each and winnings are paid in cash. It can't be combined with other offers and is available only through the designated offer link.

These are slot offers, and the house edge applies to every spin. Set your limit first and decide in advance what the offer is worth to you as entertainment.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.