UK online casino rules 2026: wagering cap, stake limits and your rights

Check the licence first

Every online casino that serves players in Great Britain needs a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. Licensed sites must show a statement with their account number, linked to their entry on the Commission's public register. To check, search the public register by the site's domain name or account number, make sure the status is Active, and confirm the exact web address is listed under that licence.

Bonuses and the 10x wagering cap

Since 19 January 2026, licensed operators cannot apply wagering requirements above 10 times, and cannot offer a bonus that mixes different types of gambling — for example, "bet on football, get free spins" (LCCP social responsibility code 5.1.1).

The key terms of any bonus — who is eligible, the minimum deposit, wagering, expiry, eligible games and any caps on bets or winnings — should be shown alongside the offer. Our wagering calculator shows how much you would need to bet and the expected loss along the way.

Online slots stake limits

Online slots have a maximum stake of £5 per spin for adults from 9 April 2025, and £2 per spin for players aged 18 to 24 from 21 May 2025 (Gambling Commission guidance). The limit applies per game cycle, so it covers each spin rather than each session.

Deposit limits and financial checks

From 31 October 2025, casinos must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit, remind you about your limits every six months, and apply any reduction straight away (Gambling Commission). Separately, operators must run a financial vulnerability check once a customer's net deposits reach £150 in a rolling 30 days. Fuller financial risk assessments were announced in July 2026 but had not started when we last checked.

Age and identity checks

You must be 18 to gamble. Since May 2019 operators must verify your age before you can deposit, gamble or even play free-to-play versions of their games (LCCP 3.2.11). Expect to confirm your identity when you sign up.

Self-exclusion with GAMSTOP

Every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain has had to take part in GAMSTOP since 31 March 2020. One free registration at gamstop.co.uk blocks you from all of them for six months, one year or five years. See our safer gambling page for other support.

Offshore and "not on GAMSTOP" casinos

Sites marketed as "not on GAMSTOP" are not licensed in Great Britain, so none of the protections above apply. Advertising gambling that is not properly licensed to people in Great Britain is a criminal offence under section 330 of the Gambling Act 2005, which is why we never list these sites. This guide covers Great Britain; Northern Ireland has separate gambling law.