Does Gambling or Betting Affect a Mortgage Application?

Here you’ll learn about how gambling can impact a mortgage application, how much gambling mortgage lenders typically consider problematic, and what to do if you’ve been rejected for a mortgage because of high gambling transactions.

How does gambling affect a mortgage application?

A history of gambling can sometimes have a major impact on a mortgage application. Mortgage lenders have strict eligibility criteria and they will be wary of applications where even a sporadic history of betting or other forms of gambling are detected, especially if you’ve lost a significant amount of money through it.

A select number of mortgage lenders may be willing to overlook gambling depending on the following…

• How high their appetite for risk is
• How often you’re gambling
• How much money you spend on it
• The amount of winnings/losses you make
• How recent the gambling transactions are
• The type of gambling you take part in
• Whether you have bad credit as well

So, it is possible, potentially, to get a mortgage if gambling appears on your bank statements, and it’s even possible to declare gambling winnings on a mortgage application as income with a small minority of mortgage lenders.

Get expert advice if…

• You’ve already had a mortgage application declined
• You have gambling transactions on any of your last 3 months of bank statements
• You gamble for more than £200 a month or you spend more than 10% of your monthly income on gambling
• You regularly gamble on more then 2 platforms (eg: you have multiple betting accounts)

If any of the above apply to you, it’s important to speak to an expert broker before submitting an application.

If you feel your gambling habit is purely recreational and doesn’t go outside the boundaries outlined above then finding the right lender is critical. This is where a broker comes in – a mortgage advisor who specialises in mortgages for gamblers can make sure you find the ideal lender, first time.

How much gambling is too much?

The answer to this varies from lender to lender depending on their appetite for risk. If the gambling transactions are recurrent, some mortgage providers will factor them in during the affordability assessment and make a decision based on the amount you spend on betting relative to your income and other fixed financial commitments.

While there are lenders who are happy to overlook frequent gambling if it’s well managed and within the borrower’s means, others assess applications where there’s recurrent betting on a case-by-case basis. This often means they will request extra underwriter scrutiny to establish the full risk of lending to somebody who gambles on a regular basis.

Understand your level of risk

Use our tool below to see if your monthly gambling will be deemed too high for lenders.

*This calculator is a guide. Each lender will have varying criteria and will depend on the frequency, amount and type of gambling.

What do mortgage lenders class as ‘gambling’?

Mortgage lenders in the UK treat the following as forms of gambling…

• Casino games and slot machines (including online)
• Online betting sites
• Betting through a bookmaker
• Lotteries
• Bingo
• Scratchcards

Most mortgage lenders will take the same stance on any form of legal gambling if it’s frequent or accounts for a lot of your disposable income, but how frequent and how much is too much would usually be determined on a case-by-case basis.

What to do if you’ve already been declined for a mortgage because of gambling

Mortgage lenders are known to decline applications where the borrower has a history of gambling. This is usually because they believe the transactions are too frequent, the losses too heavy or the amount that’s being spent on gambling is too high.

If you’ve been declined for a mortgage because of gambling, here are the steps to take…

• Remember, it’s not the end of the road: It’s understandable to be disappointed and frustrated, but keep in mind that there are other mortgage lenders who will consider your application, so it may be possible to get approved elsewhere.
• Resist the temptation to re-apply straight away: Many people make this mistake. They rush straight to another lender in search of a different outcome, but another rejection could have a serious impact on your credit report. Professional advice is essential if you’ve been declined once already.
• Let us match you with the right broker: Our free broker-matching service can handpick a mortgage advisor who specialises in arranging finance for people with a history of gambling. They know exactly which lenders are willing to overlook gambling transactions and can help you get your mortgage back on track.

How to get a mortgage if you’re a professional gambler

It’s possible to get a mortgage based on gambling income, but you’ll need to fit well within the parameters of general eligibility criteria – such as having a clean credit record and a large deposit – since most mortgage lenders would treat an application under these circumstances as high risk. Gambling income is often volatile, so it’s easy to see where lender concerns stem from.

Those with a successful track record of earning money regularly and an upward trend of betting income are much more likely to be deemed a safe bet by mortgage lenders and have this income considered for mortgage purposes.

Here is the criteria lenders use to assess mortgage applications for professional gamblers: 

• Income stability / betting behaviour / habits

Consistent income. Most lenders like to see a steady profit from gambling if it’s your main source of income.

• Track record

Having a long-term track record of making a full-time wage from gambling will boost your chance of getting a mortgage based on your winnings.

• Type of gambling

Types of gambling where there is some form of skill involved – such as Blackjack, Baccarat or horse racing (if you’re an owner/trainer or regular backer) – are often looked on more favourably than luck-based gambling such as the lottery.

• Gambling income ratio

This refers to the size of your typical betting stake relative to the amount of money you have. For example, if you regularly place £1,000 bets but have hundreds of thousands in your bank account, this is unlikely to cause concern.

In addition to the criteria lenders have for your gambling income, you will also need to meet their general criteria for creditworthiness. The stronger your application, the more likely the lender is to overlook any potential risk posed by the way you make your money. You can read about the general eligibility criteria in our mortgage applications guide.

Speak to an expert about mortgages and gambling

If you’re applying for a mortgage with a history of gambling or have been rejected for one on these grounds, seeking professional advice is absolutely vital.

Approaching the right mortgage lender, one with a high enough appetite for risk to approve you despite your betting history could be the difference between success and failure.

We offer a free broker-matching service that can boost your chances of approval. It will match you with a handpicked expert who regularly helps people get a mortgage with gambling on their bank statements, from those who bet recreationally to pro gamblers.

Call 0808 189 2301 or make an enquiry and we’ll match you with a mortgage broker who specialises in securing mortgages for gamblers today.

Get help for gambling addiction

If you feel that your gambling habit is spiraling out of control all is not lost and there is help available through the NHS.