Tim Miller Fires Message Ahead Of UKGC Exit; Twin Concerns Raised

Tim Miller has delivered a stinging message on the state of the betting industry, focusing on black market activity and financial risk assessments (FRAs) ahead of his impending departure from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC).

News filtered through earlier this week that Miller, who served as the UKGC’s Executive Director of Policy & Research for over a decade, will step down from his post in September. However, Miller accepts there are a few unresolved issues that need tackling with the betting industry in a state of flux.

Disconnect over FRAs

One of the major concerns that surfaced was the delayed rollout of FRAs. A pilot scheme was initiated by the Commission in August 2024, and several tier one operators participated in the trial scheme, which triggered additional checks when a player’s net monthly deposit hit £500 in the first light-touch check.

In May 2025, the Gambling Commission said the vast bulk of checks (97%) had been deemed frictionless, but further attacks on the policy last month meant it is still waiting to get out of the starting blocks.

An intense joint lobbying campaign from racing and the betting industry (both publicly and behind the scenes) to quash its progress seemed to have the desired effect, with affordability checks paused.

However, Miller, who was speaking at an iGB event held in London this week, conceded that there has been some “disconnect” between the regulator and industry over FRAs. Instead, he preferred to focus on how the concept should be redefined, given the significant pushback received to date.

He said:

“I think a lot of people have forgotten the purpose of the policy in the white paper. It’s about being really focused upon high-spending customers where there is evidence of financial distress.”

Black markets flagged again

Unsurprisingly, the existential threat of black market gambling activity surfaced once again. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) have clamoured for policymakers to take swift action over a murky industry, where research has shown stakes with rogue operators could double from £16.6 billion in 2025 to a staggering £33 billion by 2028.

Although the BGC recently unveiled its five-point strategy aimed at curbing the influence of unlicensed operators, which included imploring social media companies to remove all illegal gambling content and advertisements, Miller insists that he has considerable reservations about black market sites. Rather, he thinks that licensed UK operators need to “pick a side”.

He added:

“I think what it indicates is that we talk about the licensed market and the illegal market like they are two coexisting but completely separate entities, and that’s just not the reality. It’s a very blurry line between the two of those.

“You cannot be using suppliers and affiliates that are also supporting the illegal market.”

Time is of the essence

After a long and successful stint at UKGC, the next chapter of Miller’s career will see  him pivot within the betting industry. Miller revealed that he will work internationally with a number of regulators and organisations focused on developing competitive and well-governed markets, as he considers himself a public servant.

For now, however, Miller feels like he has unfinished business, and he is committed to pushing through policy changes before he leaves the UKGC.

Time is of the essence, but if he can arrest the threat of the black market and get FRAs over the line, then he may well consider that a job well done.