Mortgage borrowers who use gambling as a leisure activity “shouldn’t be treated like they’re the Cincinnati Kid”

Dariusz Karpowicz, director at Albion Financial Advice: “This is often the case, as borrowers’ profiles, credit history and bank statements are thoroughly scanned and scrutinised by lenders. Unfortunately, even occasional gambling transactions can raise red flags. We seem to be at a point where lending criteria are already quite stringent, and I can see things tightening even further. “Lenders sometimes struggle to differentiate between a casual flutter on events like the Grand National and serious gambling problems. While protecting financial stability is crucial, it does feel like we’re inching closer to peak nanny state, where even minor financial behaviours are heavily policed.”