UK Gambling Commission sets new rules for online deposit limits

The UK Gambling Commission announced new rules aimed at clarifying and standardising deposit limits for online gamblers, part of a broader strategy to give consumers greater control over their spending.

Under the changes, which take effect on 30 June 2026, all online operators must offer players the option to set a deposit limit based solely on the amount they add to their account over a defined period. Only this type of limit can now be called a “deposit limit,” the Commission said, while operators may continue to offer other financial safeguards such as loss limits or limits that also factor in withdrawals.

The move follows concerns that some existing systems were confusing or costly, with deposit limits often functioning more like loss limits, allowing players to inadvertently exceed intended spending levels.

Earlier changes, effective 31 October 2025, will require operators to:

• Prompt customers to set a financial limit before making their first deposit.
• Remind consumers every six months to review account and transaction histories.
• Offer flexible, free-text options for setting meaningful financial limits.
• Provide clearly visible links to limit-setting tools on home and deposit pages.
• Immediately act on requests to reduce financial limits.

A recent Gambling Survey for Great Britain highlighted that gambling rates are nearly double in deprived areas, underscoring the need for targeted protections.

“Our work will help empower consumers to have greater awareness and control over their gambling,” said Helen Rhodes, Director of Major Policy Projects at the Commission. “These further changes will also bring consistency and clarity for those consumers choosing to set deposit limits, while still supporting gambling businesses to offer customer choice for different forms of limits.”

The staged reforms form part of the Commission’s ongoing safer gambling strategy, aiming to make financial control tools more transparent and accessible for online players.