The end of mid-stakes poker in the UK?
The UK government has just published its proposals to reform gambling.
Of most concern is a proposed affordability check:
In general, this government agrees with the principle that people should be free to spend their money how they see fit, so we propose a targeted system of financial risk checks that is proportionate to the risk of harm occurring. Assessments should start with unintrusive checks at moderate levels of spend (we propose £125 net loss within a month or £500 within a year), and if necessary escalate to checks which are more detailed but still frictionless at higher loss levels where the risks are greater (we propose £1,000 loss within a day or £2,000 within 90 days). We also propose that the triggers for enhanced checks should be lower for those aged 18 to 24.
About checks
We would expect the credit reference agency would be able to provide an overview of pertinent information for the individual customer, for instance an estimate of overall disposable income, rather than providing all the raw data to gambling firms. Where this is not possible, information may need to be collected directly from the customer
The concept of a bankroll or staking doesn't exist in these proposals, so any full time player will be stopped playing as soon as they hit one of these thresholds due to being unable to evidence disposable income.
Sports bettors also face similar problems.
There will be no support from gambling operators as the opportunity to shut out winners will be welcomed.
There will be consultations in due course, so it is vitally important for players to respond and make sure that the concept of a bankroll is included in any proposals and that selection of games and tournaments of various buyins linked to that bankroll, is the highest level of responsible gambling and to ignore it is negligent in any view of that subject.
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Are there any updates on this? What are people's recent experiences?
On this topic, any advice on how to get results from talking to GG support? They are infuriatingly clueless when dealing with requests to increase deposit limits or lift the stoploss triggered balance locks. The locks are happening whenever I lose $2k in 24 hours. What if I build my roll on there and move up to 5/10? They're gonna lock my account every time I lose 2 buyins?
The UK does not want anyone making a living tax free unless you are in the 10%. The hoops you have to go through just to deposit £500 and the snooping the government wants these sites to inflict on you is beyond reasonable, The policing of how you can spend your hard earned money on what you desire is totalitarianism.
One site wanted my business accounts over 3 years and all sorts of ridiculous documents, no thanks.
I do not complain my business is registered in Mauritius as up to paying %50 tax in the UK one just cannot stomach, I have also relocated to Spain.
The UK is finished not only in regards to Poker every aspect is failing.
It's not just gambling, I'm getting requests for details of my income and how I earn it etc from investment platforms as well now.
In terms of the affordability checks I did read a while back that now they are allowed to take withdrawals into account. IE withdraw £1000 and deposit £1000 and your total deposits figure is now counted as 0. Previously they would have had to ignore the withdrawal and simply looked at the amount you were depositing. Completely stupid but thats the way it was. Apparently changed now but I have no experience nor have I seen the guidance.
It's not just gambling, I'm getting requests for details of my income and how I earn it etc from investment platforms as well now.In terms of the affordability checks I did read a while back that now they are allowed to take withdrawals into account. IE withdraw £1000 and deposit £1000 and your total deposits figure is now counted as 0. Previously they would have had to ignor
I have requested 4x for Pokerstars to increase deposit to 5k its weird tells me I have X left then tells me I can only deposit X case point 2 weeks ago I deposit £500 run up to 6K withdraw and cannot deposit again a week later. I am also unsure what the hell is going on now, lucky poker is not my sole income anymore and me is a baluga.
Trying to get clarification and contact from these sites is almost impossible, back in the day you had a site VIP contact who would be there like a PA for problems and resolutions.
The UK does not want anyone making a living tax free unless you are in the 10%. The hoops you have to go through just to deposit £500 and the snooping the government wants these sites to inflict on you is beyond reasonable, The policing of how you can spend your hard earned money on what you desire is totalitarianism.One site wanted my business accounts over 3 years and all so
COVID proved that the UK is a police state masquerading as a democracy. A worrying trend for democracies around the world.
Here in Ireland later this year unless the bill passed is amended we won't be allowed to play for a prizepool greater than €3k and a single game for more than €10 which will likely mean the end of regulated sites. The black market operators have been seen since with huge grins across their faces.
This is what happens when politicians interfere with something they don't understand. The context behind this is they included poker into a category with pit games such as blackjack and roulette but funny enough nothing done to betting on horses or sport. I guess the horse racing community accounts for too many votes.
Another interesting thing is the suited clown who oversaw this is now our minister for housing. Woops, what could go wrong?
It takes a lot of effort not to become a cynic when being governed by such buffoons. But it's an effort worth making because being a cynic is no way to live.
COVID proved that the UK is a police state masquerading as a democracy. A worrying trend for democracies around the world.
Off topic my experience in these times, I fly a lot, PCR test in the UK in some make shift office building claiming to be a clinic with zero clean room 100 pounds, Fly back I need to see a Spanish doctor for PCR test 38 euros. OK, then they started putting these testing sites in Airports. More restrictions come I payed for one home PCR test and never used this but used the number of this test time and time on the documents no problems never a question.
The crazy thing I flew back from Valencia ,on the Sunday a call on my property holy Jesus lie me not it was a man from the NHS telling me I had to quarantine for two weeks as some person test positive on the plane to th UK. I told him in terse language to leave and why are you bothering me on a Sunday! I flew back a week later no problems.
The conclusions one makes from this deserves a whole new thread.
