Nineteen MPs from various parties have written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy urging her to halt the Gambling Commission’s rollout of controversial affordability checks on gamblers, warning these measures could severely damage the horseracing industry. The MPs, many linked to major racecourses like Aintree and Ascot, argue that the checks—requiring intrusive financial documentation—are not frictionless as promised and risk pushing punters towards illegal black market betting sites. Industry figures fear the policy could cost horseracing £250 million over five years and eliminate £13 million in levies that fund the sport, threatening jobs and the sport’s future.

The letter follows growing opposition including from the Betting and Gaming Council, which estimates over 44,000 racing bettors might turn to unregulated markets if the checks proceed. Government adviser Dr James Noyes resigned in protest over the lack of scrutiny on the plans. The British Horseracing Authority’s Greg Swift described the checks as an “existential threat” that could devastate the industry financially and culturally. The Sun’s Save Our Bets campaign has also highlighted these concerns, sponsoring a race at Hamilton Park to raise awareness.