Labour is expected to confirm new affordability assessments for online gamblers who incur heavy losses, despite opposition from the betting industry.

Under the proposals, gamblers losing more than £125 in 30 days or £500 in a year would face basic checks using public records. 

Those losing more than £1,000 in 24 hours or £2,000 over 90 days would trigger enhanced checks using credit-reference data.

Ministers insist the measures are not affordability checks and will not cap spending, but are intended to identify customers in serious financial difficulty.

An industry source said: "The Gambling Commission is rushing into the biggest policy change this industry has ever seen, at the same time it’s struggling to recruit a new chairman, a new chief executive, and most of its officials seem to be leaving to advise the private sector."

The source added: "It’s a farce, and the whole thing risks yet another windfall for illegal gambling operators."

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