Player Affordability

What is Player Affordability?

Player Affordability refers to the process by which iGaming operators assess a customer’s financial capability to engage in gambling, helping identify what they can and cannot afford based on their gambling behaviours. This evaluation aims to uncover any potential risks or harms associated with excessive gambling.

Player affordability, as well as Customer due diligence(CDD) are closely linked to the concept of Know Your Customer(KYC). For industries with multiple touchpoints and interactions, this is an ongoing process rather than a one-off.

Why are Player Affordability checks needed?

Operators are under continual scrutiny from regulators to identify customers who may be at risk of gambling-related harm. Relying on static measures, such as deposit limits or loss thresholds, may lead to unintended consequences and does not sufficiently address the issue. 

Affordability assessments are particularly challenging, as individuals often try to conceal or deny problematic gambling behaviours. It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure that high-value customers are thoroughly evaluated and to confirm that all players are not spending beyond their financial means. This may involve monitoring changes in spending patterns over time, increases in betting frequency, or large bets being placed in a single transaction. As a result, iGaming operators face greater uncertainty and risk in managing player affordability.