UK casino bonus rules in 2026

In 2026 the Gambling Commission tightened the rules for online promotions. This guide explains the changes we use when reading offers, based on the Commission’s published announcement. Rules and guidance can change, so check the Commission’s site for the current text.

The main changes from 19 January 2026

• Wagering cap. Wagering requirements on bonuses offered to customers in Great Britain are capped at 10 times the bonus. A bonus with a 35x or 40x requirement is not a compliant UK offer from that date.
• No mixed-product promotions. A promotion cannot require a customer to use one product (for example a sports bet) to get a bonus for another (for example casino spins).
• Fairness and clarity. Operators must make sure terms are not misleading and that promotions are fair. The Social Responsibility Code on marketing was reworded at the same time.

What the advertising rules add

Separate from the Commission’s licence conditions, the advertising codes enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and written by the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) require that:

• significant conditions of a promotion are stated clearly in the advert itself, not only behind a link;
• an offer is not described as “free” if you must deposit or spend money to get it;
• offers are not described as “risk free” when you can still lose money;
• adverts are not aimed at under-18s or likely to appeal strongly to them.

That is why we write “bonus spins” for deposit-triggered offers and reserve “free spins” for offers that need no deposit.

Other limits you will meet

• Online slots have maximum stakes per spin set by the Gambling Commission in 2025: £5 for most players, with a lower limit for 18 to 24 year olds.
• Credit cards cannot be used to gamble.
• Operators must offer tools such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, and must take part in GAMSTOP.

How we apply this

Next to every offer on GamCasual we show the minimum deposit, wagering, maximum bet, time limit, caps, eligible games and the date we checked. If an operator’s page shows terms that would be outside the UK rules, we say so and do not present it as a UK offer.

See wagering requirements explained for worked examples.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum wagering requirement on a UK casino bonus?

Since 19 January 2026, wagering requirements on bonuses offered to UK customers are capped at 10 times the bonus under the Gambling Commission's rules.

Can a casino bonus require me to place a sports bet?

No. From 19 January 2026 promotions that mix products, such as a casino bonus that requires a sports bet, are not allowed.

Why do some sites show higher wagering?

They may be showing offers for other countries, or older terms. Always read the terms shown for your account and compare with the date on the page.