UK casino bonus rules

Casino bonuses in Great Britain changed on 19 January 2026. Wagering requirements are now capped, and a single promotion can no longer mix casino play with betting or bingo. Here is what the rules say, and how to read an offer’s terms.

What a wagering requirement is

Some offers give you bonus funds on condition that you stake a certain total before any winnings from the bonus can be withdrawn. The Gambling Commission’s own example: a £10 bonus with a 50 times wagering requirement means playing through £500 first. The Commission concluded that requirements this high could confuse people and lead them to gamble for longer and faster than usual.

The 10x cap

From 19 January 2026, Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 says licensees must not apply wagering requirements over a maximum of 10 times. Under the new rules, the most a £10 bonus can require you to stake before withdrawing is £100.

A lower requirement still costs money to clear, because the house edge applies to every stake. A bonus is never free cash.

No mixed-product promotions

The same code now stops operators including more than one type of gambling product — betting, casino, bingo and lottery — within one incentive. So a single offer cannot, for example, require a sports bet to unlock casino spins.

Other rules that still apply

• Terms must be clear, transparent and fair, and readily accessible to anyone offered the incentive.
• An operator must not increase the value of an incentive because you reach the qualifying spend faster than the full period allows.
• So-called VIP or high-value schemes must be run consistently with the licensing objectives and the Commission’s guidance.
• Advertising must show significant conditions where leaving them out would mislead, under the advertising codes overseen by the ASA.

Your own money comes first

A bonus cannot be used to lock up your deposit. The Commission’s guidance on deposits and deposit winnings (opens in a new tab) says:

• you must be told you can withdraw your deposit balance at any time, including when a bonus is pending or active
• your deposit balance and bonus balance must be shown separately, not mixed into a single pot
• wagering requirements and bonus play restrictions must not apply to play with your deposit balance — unless the game itself automatically stops you placing a bet that breaks the restriction, such as a maximum stake
• you can withdraw winnings made with your own money, however much or little you have played.

Operators can still require you to meet the wagering requirement before winnings from the bonus become withdrawable.

What the Commission and the CMA expect

The Commission’s guide to free offers and bonuses (opens in a new tab) says companies should let you walk away from play at any time, keeping what is left of your deposit and any winnings from it, and should make clear whether you are playing with your own money or bonus funds. It says companies should not use your name, photo or other personal data for publicity without your specific consent, or change a free bet once you have accepted it and started playing.

These points trace back to a Competition and Markets Authority investigation (opens in a new tab), after which three leading operators agreed not to use unfair terms in online promotions. The CMA told all online gambling firms to review their terms. Its list of don’ts includes:

• denying customers access to their own money, or capping how much they can withdraw of their deposits and deposit winnings
• attaching complicated or unfair play restrictions to deposits
• requiring customers to take part in publicity
• confiscating funds because identity documents were not provided within a set time, or after a period of inactivity.

The Commission’s consumer video (opens in a new tab) adds that sites must be clear upfront about significant conditions, giving examples such as a minimum deposit, a maximum bonus, a maximum stake, and the age limit. The CMA guidance dates from 2018; the government page notes that the newer Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 rules, in force from 6 April 2025, contain broadly similar prohibitions on unfair and misleading practices.

The terms worth reading before you opt in

1. Wagering requirement — the multiple, and whether it applies to the bonus or to bonus plus deposit.
2. Game contribution — many offers count some games less, or not at all, towards wagering.
3. Expiry — how long you have to use the bonus or free spins.
4. Maximum stake while a bonus is active, and any cap on winnings.
5. Qualifying deposit — the minimum amount and the time window.
6. Payment exclusions — some offers exclude certain payment methods.

If a term changes your understanding of the offer, it should be clear before you sign up. If it is not, ask customer support in writing and keep the reply. If you think you have been treated unfairly, the Commission says to use the operator’s complaints process; see how to complain.

Why we do not list offers yet

Offers change often, and a headline without its full terms can mislead. Until we can show each offer with its current, approved terms beside it, we leave offers out altogether. See how we review.