Dr. James Noyes, a leading advocate for gambling reform in the UK, has urged Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to pause the implementation of affordability checks for online gamblers. In an open letter, Noyes expressed concerns that the checks, intended to assess financial risk, could disproportionately affect horse racing bettors and drive them to the black market. He emphasized that while affordability checks were a good idea in principle, they must be evaluated properly to avoid unnecessary burdens on gamblers. Noyes, who previously supported the introduction of these checks, noted that the Gambling Commission has yet to release a final report on its pilot study launched in September 2024. He criticized the lack of transparency and inconsistent data surrounding the pilot, warning that the checks could harm the horse racing industry, which is a significant part of British culture. Noyes concluded his letter by calling for the government to heed warnings from the British Horseracing Authority and pause the checks until a thorough evaluation is completed.