UK Gambling Commission introduces clearer deposit limit rules

• All online operators must offer standardised deposit limits based solely on money paid into accounts from June 2026
• Earlier changes from October 2025 require operators to prompt customers for financial limits before first deposits
• New rules aim to eliminate confusion over different types of spending controls and empower consumer choice

The UK Gambling Commission has announced new regulations that will standardise how online gambling operators offer deposit limits to customers, with the changes taking effect in two phases to provide greater clarity and consumer protection.

From 30 June 2026, all online gambling operators will be required to provide customers with the opportunity to set a ‘deposit limit’ based solely on the amount paid into their account over a specified duration. To prevent confusion, only this form of limit may be called a ‘deposit limit’, the regulator confirmed.

October changes ahead of reform

Before the June 2026 implementation, operators must comply with new requirements from 31 October 2025.

These include prompting customers to set financial limits before making their first deposit, providing easy access to review and alter limits, and reminding consumers every six months to review their account and transaction information.

The earlier changes also require gambling businesses to offer financial limits using free text at an account level, provide clearly visible links to limit-setting facilities on homepages and deposit pages, and action all customer requests to decrease financial limits immediately.

“Our work will help empower consumers to have greater awareness and control over their gambling,” said Helen Rhodes, Commission Director of Major Policy Projects.

“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”.

Addressing industry confusion

The regulatory changes address ongoing confusion in the market over how deposit limits function. Some operators have offered ‘net deposit limits’ that factor in withdrawals, potentially allowing customers to deposit more than their original limit if they have withdrawn funds.

The Commission received numerous complaints throughout 2024 from customers expressing concerns that such practices could be “potentially unfair and misleading”.

Additional limit options remain available

The new rules do not prevent operators from offering other types of spending controls. Gambling businesses will continue to be able to offer different limits, such as loss limits or limits where withdrawals are taken into account, but these cannot be labelled as deposit limits.

The regulatory changes form part of broader consumer protection measures following the 2023 Gambling Act Review. These include restrictions on promotional offers, with bonus wagering requirements capped at 10 times the bonus amount from December 2025.

The Commission’s approach reflects evidence that clearer definitions and consistent terminology help consumers make more informed decisions about their gambling spending and maintain better control over their accounts.