Dr James Noyes has stepped down from NatCen’s Gambling Act Review Evaluation Advisory Group in protest over the “unacceptable” implementation of affordability checks by the government and Gambling Commission.

In a letter addressed to ministers, the senior fellow at the Social Market Foundation warned that rolling out the measure without “meaningful evaluation” would negatively impact both operators and customers.

“As someone who was invited to give expert advice to this process, it astonishes me we have a situation whereby controversial financial risk checks are being rolled out by the Gambling Commission before any meaningful – and independent – evaluation of this policy can be carried out,” wrote Noyes. 

“This is clearly unacceptable.”

Noyes makes a big noise as he exits stage left

It is a most extraordinary U-turn by the very man who was the most ardent advocate of the checks when they were first proposed. But his resignation is welcomed – on so many levels. The fact that he shouldn’t have been appointed to the advisory group in the first place makes his exit all the more acceptable, but the rationale for his decision, well that takes grit – and a massive serving of humble pie. But all due credit for that.

And Noyes is intent on making a noisy exit.

He said: “I was very surprised that at no point during the meetings of the advisory group was there an opportunity to discuss the potential impact of these checks on consumer and operator behaviour, or critically, in terms of harm reduction.”

Noyes’ decision was endorsed by Brant Dunshea, CEO of the British Horseracing Authority, who noted: “We commend Dr Noyes for having the courage and principle to resign from this evaluation group over his concerns about its work.”

“What increasingly appears to be an ideological desire to implement affordability checks is now impacting sound policymaking.”