The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has introduced new rules on wagering requirements and bonus mixing designed to provide a safer and simpler experience for players.
Effective from 19 December 2025, the Commission will apply a ban on promotional incentives that require players to play across different types of gambling products and place a cap on bonus wagering requirements.
Additionally, the UKGC will revise the wording of the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) to improve clarity.
The changes have been introduced following consultation with the industry and form part of a broader programme of reforms aligned with the 2023 White Paper ‘High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age’.
Bonus wagering requirements capped at x10
The first change will see online bonus wagering requirements limited to x10 the bonus amount; as such, “a £10 bonus cannot require more than £100 in bets before any winning can be withdrawn”.
According to the UKGC, the change “decreases the likelihood of harm, reduces complexity and improves transparency while maintaining consumer choice”.
During the consultation process, respondents were divided on the cap. Just over half of respondents supported a limit, while just under half wanted a complete ban on wagering requirements.
Those advocating for a ban, largely charities and academic organisations, argued that the use of wagering requirements means customers are unable to estimate the true economic cost value of an offer and suggested that they could lead to customers gambling excessively.
However, most industry participants did not back a complete ban on wagering requirements as they considered a ban could lead to fraud and the abuse of the lack of requirements through methods such as bot use or coordinated free offer exploitation.
The Commission also mooted the possibility of x1 or x5 limits, however, several respondents believed that the lower thresholds would effectively function as a ban.
It views the x10 limit as a solution that maintains consumer freedom while decreasing potential harm.
Bonus mixing
Alongside the ban on wagering requirements, the changes will also prohibit the practice of offering promotional incentives that require players to play across different products, such as sports betting and slots.
However, incentives will be allowed to be mixed within the same category, for example, a lottery scratchcard and a raffle.
Respondents were again split roughly down the middle in terms of support for the change.
Those for the ban pointed to research such as the Patter of Play report (2022), which indicated that some groups are at a higher risk of experiencing harm when playing across multiple verticals.
They also argued that simplified offers would be easier to understand and less likely to mislead or pressure consumers into gambling more than intended.
On the other hand, many gambling licensees and trade associations opposed the ban, raising concerns regarding the limitations of the research on the subject and the lack of representation of the consumer base.
They also presented their own research that showed customers enjoyed the mixing of products and contended that customers are able to exercise their free will.
The UKGC notes that the new rule is aimed at “reducing harm and boosting fairness and openness”.
It also clarified that the ban does not apply to a general credit bonus that can be applied to any product and is different from the recent changes that will require customers to consent to marketing by product and channel starting in May 2025.
Both points were raised for further questioning by respondents.
A safe and fair gambling environment
Coupled with these new measures, the UKGC will also restructure the Rewards and Bonuses section of the LCCP to improve clarity and understanding of its expectations. This seeks to minimise confusion regarding promotional rule application and interpretation by licensees.
Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, explained: “These changes will better protect consumers from gambling harm and give consumers much better clarity on, and certainty of, offers before they decide to sign up.”
