If you both bet on sports and play casino games, UK gambling has changed a lot since 2024. Some changes you will notice at sign-up, some when you claim a bonus and some every time you spin a slot. This guide sets out each rule, when it started and what it means in practice for players who use both.
The changes at a glance
- 30 August 2024: financial vulnerability checks begin, triggered at £500 net deposits in 30 days.
- 17 January 2025: game design rules that already applied to slots are extended to other online casino games.
- 28 February 2025: the financial check threshold drops to £150 net deposits in a rolling 30 days.
- 9 April 2025: online slots are capped at £5 per spin.
- 21 May 2025: online slots are capped at £2 per spin for players aged 18 to 24.
- 19 January 2026: bonus wagering is capped at 10x and mixed product promotions are banned.
Financial vulnerability checks
Since 30 August 2024, online operators must run a light-touch check on customers whose net deposits pass a set level in a rolling 30-day period. The threshold started at £500 and fell to £150 on 28 February 2025. Net deposits means what you paid in minus what you withdrew.
These checks use public records, such as bankruptcies and county court judgments, to look for signs of serious financial difficulty. The Gambling Commission reports that the vast majority are completed without the customer noticing anything. They are not the same as being asked for payslips or bank statements, which some operators still do for higher spenders.
If you use one account for sports and casino, your deposits are added together. Paying in to bet on football and then to play slots in the same month counts towards one total.
Safer game design across all casino games
Online slots have had strict design rules since 2021: no autoplay, no turbo or quick-spin features and a minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin. From 17 January 2025, the main protections were extended to other online casino games such as roulette and blackjack. Features that speed up play or give a false sense of control are restricted, and games must show how long you have been playing and whether you are up or down.
Slot stake limits
The biggest change for slot players is a legal cap on how much you can stake per spin:
- £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over, from 9 April 2025.
- £2 per spin for players aged 18 to 24, from 21 May 2025.
The limits apply to online slots only. Table games, live casino and sports betting have no equivalent cap, though operators set their own maximum stakes.
Bonus wagering capped at 10x
From 19 January 2026, any wagering requirement on a UK bonus can be no more than 10 times. Before the change, 30x, 40x or even 50x was common, which meant a £10 bonus could require £500 of play before you could withdraw. Under the cap, the most a £10 bonus can require is £100. Lower is still better, and no-wagering offers remain the simplest of all. Our wagering requirements video shows how to work out what an offer really asks of you.
Mixed product promotions banned
Also from 19 January 2026, operators can no longer offer a bonus that requires you to use more than one type of gambling. “Bet £10 on football, get 50 free spins” is the classic example. Sports welcome offers now give sports rewards, and casino offers give casino rewards. Read our full guide to the mixed product promotions ban for what it covers and what is still allowed.
Financial risk checks for high spenders
The Gambling Commission confirmed in July 2026 that financial risk assessments will be phased in. The first stage covers the largest operators and customers who deposit more than £5,000 in 24 hours (£2,500 if you are under 25). At the final stage, the triggers fall to £1,000 in 24 hours or £3,000 in 90 days. The checks use credit reference data and, the Commission says, won’t affect your credit score. The start date for stage one had not been fixed when we last checked.
Read our full guide to financial risk checks, and our guide to betting account restrictions, which bookmakers can apply for commercial reasons.
What this means if you bet and play casino
- Claim each welcome offer on its own terms. A bookmaker with a casino may now have two separate welcome offers, one for each product. Compare them side by side on our sports and casino offers page.
- Expect fewer, simpler bonus terms. With wagering capped and no cross-product conditions, offers are easier to compare. Still check the minimum odds, maximum bet, eligible games and expiry.
- Keep your ID and address up to date. Checks are faster when your account details match public records.
- Set a deposit limit at sign-up. UK operators now ask you to consider one when you open an account. On a shared account it usually covers sports and casino together. See one sports and casino account for how shared limits work.
What has not changed
You must be 18 or over to gamble, credit cards have been banned for gambling since April 2020, and GAMSTOP still lets you exclude yourself from every UK-licensed gambling site at once. Unsure about any of the terms used here? Our glossary of betting and gambling terms explains them in plain English.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Set limits before you play and never chase losses. For free, confidential support, visit BeGambleAware or GamCare.