UK casino bonus rules

UK casino bonus rules at a glance

Bonus rules in Britain are not one regulation but a set of overlapping duties. The headline changes came on 19 January 2026, when the Gambling Commission rewrote social responsibility code 5.1.1 in the LCCP. Older rules on fair terms, withdrawals and opt-in still apply alongside them. This table pulls the main ones together; each is explained below.

These sit within the wider protections on our UK rules hub. For a guide to bonus types themselves, see our casino bonuses section.

The 10x wagering cap in UK casino bonus rules

Wagering, or play-through, is the amount you must bet before bonus money or its winnings become withdrawable. The Commission's revised SR code 5.1.1 (opens in a new tab) says a customer can't be required to play through bonus funds more than 10 times. In its announcement of the change (opens in a new tab), the Commission used the example of a £10 bonus with 50x wagering, which would have meant £500 of play before any winnings could be taken out. An outright ban on wagering was consulted on but not adopted.

The cap matters because wagering is where the house edge eats a bonus. Expected cost is total wagering multiplied by the edge, so lower wagering leaves more of the bonus intact on average.

These are long-run averages; any one attempt can end well above or below them, and many end with the balance gone before wagering is finished. Our pages on wagering requirements and the 10x wagering cap go deeper into the maths.

The code speaks of playing through bonus funds. Whether an operator may also attach wagering to the qualifying deposit was not specifically settled in the text we checked, so read each offer's terms.

One gambling product per promotion

From 19 January 2026, an incentive must not include more than one type of gambling product: betting, casino, bingo or lottery. That ended a common style of offer where a sports bet released casino spins, or casino play earned bingo tickets. Cross-selling between products is dealt with through this ban rather than a separate rule.

For casino players, the practical effect is that a casino welcome offer is now a casino-only offer. The offer structures it rules out are listed on our mixed-product ban page.

Your deposit stays yours during a bonus

One of the most useful bonus rules gets the least attention. The Commission's guidance on withdrawing deposits and deposit winnings (opens in a new tab) says players must be told they can withdraw their deposit balance at any time, including when a bonus is active, even if the money has been allocated to a bonus. Wagering requirements and play restrictions can't apply to your own deposit balance; they can apply only to bonus winnings.

• Deposit and bonus balances must be shown separately, clearly and prominently, never as a single pot.
• Any withdrawal charge must not exceed the direct cost of processing it.
• The guidance doesn't say in which order deposit and bonus funds must be used, so that is set by each casino's terms.

Walking away usually means giving up the bonus, but not your own money. Our question page on whether you can withdraw without using a bonus covers the practical side, and withdrawing with a bonus active explains how casinos usually handle it.

Can a casino change a bonus after you opt in?

Generally, no. Commission guidance on the right to vary a promotion (opens in a new tab) says operators must not use terms letting them change or withdraw a promotion for a customer who has opted in, unless that is needed to prevent fraud or similar unlawful behaviour. You must also opt in yourself rather than being enrolled automatically.

Clause 3(c) of the 2026 code adds a related point: an operator must not change or increase an incentive because you reach the qualifying spend sooner than the full offer period. That carries over a rule that already existed. It does not mean offers can't involve time at all. Daily spin drops and fixed offer periods remain allowed.

Bonus play restrictions: what the terms must spell out

Casinos can restrict how bonus money is played, but the rules insist those restrictions are clear in advance. Terms must specify all prohibited types or patterns of play, and a casino must not ban a form of play it didn't set out beforehand or keep sole discretion to decide what counts as a breach. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, an unclear term is read in the way most favourable to you.

A maximum bet term is the casino's own rule and sits on top of the legal slot stake limits of £5 a spin for over-25s and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds. Our pages on the max bet rule and game weighting explain how each works.

Bonus rules for table and live casino games

No UK rule requires casinos to let bonus money be used on blackjack, roulette or live games, and many don't. Table and live games are often excluded or count for less towards wagering. If a game counts at 10%, every £10 staked clears only £1 of wagering, so a £500 requirement would need £5,000 of play on that game.

That is why our partner offers on this page are slot offers. If you mainly play tables, read the terms before you opt in; our answers on using a bonus on blackjack and using a bonus on live casino explain the usual position.

Who can't be offered a casino bonus

• Anyone not yet verified. Age and identity must be checked before you can deposit or gamble, including with a bonus; see age verification.
• Customers showing strong signs of harm. Under the customer interaction rules, marketing and new bonus take-up must stop.
• Self-excluded people. GAMSTOP members must be refused service and removed from marketing.
• Some regions. Commission rules cover Great Britain, and some offers exclude Northern Ireland, PlayOJO's welcome offer among them.
• VIP candidates without checks. Before offering high-value perks, operators must confirm a customer's spend is affordable and sustainable; see VIP schemes.

Checking an offer against UK casino bonus rules

1. Confirm the casino is licensed by the Gambling Commission before anything else.
2. Check the wagering multiple is 10x or less and whether it applies to the bonus only.
3. Make sure the offer covers casino play only, with no betting or bingo element.
4. Find the maximum bet, excluded games, weighting and time limits in the significant terms.
5. Look for a clear definition of any prohibited play; vague wording is a warning sign.
6. Check that your deposit balance is shown separately and can be withdrawn at any time.
7. Opt in yourself, keep a screenshot of the terms, and decide on a budget before playing; our guide on whether to take a bonus helps.

Timeline of UK casino bonus rules

How our partner offers fit UK bonus rules

All three offers below carry no wagering on spin winnings, well inside the 10x cap, and each is casino-only, so none falls foul of the mixed-product ban. They are slot offers and can't be used on table or live games. 18+ and terms apply.

• Coral (LC International Limited, 54743): for new players from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slots to get 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each; accept within 48 hours, valid 7 days, no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
• PlayOJO (Skill On Net Limited, 39326): new UK customers, Northern Ireland excluded. A first deposit of £10 or more gets 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, no wagering, with winnings paid in cash; can't be combined with other offers and only available through the designated link.
• Ladbrokes (LC International Limited, 54743): new customers who deposit and spend £10+ on slots get 50 free spins a day for the first 10 days, maximum 500, at 10p each on selected games. Claim before 23:59 each day; spins valid 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't qualify.

Coral and Ladbrokes have the same operator, so one person may not be able to open new accounts with both. Our Ladbrokes casino review has the full terms context.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.