Guide
UK casino bonus rules in 2026: the 10x cap and single-product offers
What the Gambling Commission's bonus rules require since 19 January 2026, what they leave to operators and how offers look now.
Casino bonus rules in the UK changed on 19 January 2026. Since then, operators licensed by the Gambling Commission cannot require you to play bonus funds through more than 10 times, and a single offer can no longer cover more than one type of gambling, such as casino and betting together. Both rules apply in Great Britain to offers for new and existing customers.
18+ only. Bonuses are marketing, not extra value you need to take; the responsible gambling page explains how to keep play within limits.
How the 2026 rules came about
The Commission consulted on socially responsible incentives in 2023 and announced its decision on 26 March 2025. The changes were first due on 19 December 2025 and were moved to 19 January 2026. They sit in social responsibility code 5.1.1 on rewards and bonuses, part of the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice that every licensee must follow.
The five requirements in the bonus code
- Wagering capped at 10x. Licensees must not require a customer to play through bonus funds more than 10 times. The wagering requirements guide shows the arithmetic.
- One product type per incentive. An offer must not cover more than one of betting, casino, bingo and lottery.
- Clear terms. The terms of any incentive must be clear, transparent, fair, and easy to find and read.
- No reward for speed. An incentive's value must not increase because you reach the qualifying spend faster than the full offer period allows.
- VIP schemes. High-value and VIP incentives must be consistent with the licensing objectives.
The end of casino and sports bundles
Before 2026 a common sign-up deal combined free bets with casino spins in a single offer. That format is now banned: one incentive, one product type. An operator with both a sportsbook and a casino can still run a sports offer and a casino offer, but they must be separate incentives with their own terms. Casino bonus pages on this site therefore list casino-only offers. How products such as Slingo are classified between casino and bingo is not set out publicly, so read the offer's own terms on that point.
What changed for players in practice
The clearest change is the size of play-through: deposit-match bonuses at licensed casinos now carry 10x or less. Mecca Games is one example: £20 bonus and 50 bonus spins after a £10 deposit
Min deposit £10, Paysafecard excluded; £20 bonus 10x wagering on selected games, max win £50; 50 bonus spins on Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus, 10x wagering, max win £50
Wink Slots runs a smaller match at the same cap: 50% games bonus up to £100 on a £10 first deposit
Min deposit £10; 50% bonus up to £100; 10x bonus wagering; 5-day expiry
Bonus spins with no wagering on winnings were already available and remain so. 666 Casino: 20 spins on Big Bass Splash when you deposit and wager £20
18+, new players, first deposit; £20 must be wagered on Big Bass Splash within 7 days; spins on Big Bass Splash; 0x wagering on winnings
The cap has not removed other limits. Maximum wins, conversion caps, short expiry, single eligible games and payment exclusions are all still allowed, so the significant terms matter as much as ever. The guide to reading significant terms lists the lines to check.
Points the rules leave to each operator
Several details are not settled by the code in a way that applies to every offer. Whether the 10x base is the bonus alone or deposit plus bonus, how winnings from spins are treated and how individual games are weighted towards wagering are all set out in each operator's terms. Read those terms rather than assuming. GB rules cap wagering on bonus funds at 10x; how an operator applies that to a given offer is in its own small print.
Earlier rules that still shape bonuses
| In force | Rule | Effect on offers |
|---|---|---|
| 14 April 2020 | Credit card gambling ban | Bonuses cannot be funded by credit card, including through e-wallets funded by one |
| 9 April and 21 May 2025 | Online slot stake limits of £5, or £2 for 18 to 24 | Bonus spins and bets while wagering must stay within them |
| 1 May 2025 | Direct marketing opt-in per product and per channel | Bonus emails and texts only for products and channels you agree to |
| 31 October 2025 | Financial limit prompt before first deposit | You are asked to set a limit before claiming a first-deposit offer |
Advertising rules also apply: under the CAP Code, significant conditions must appear next to the offer, and an offer that requires a deposit should not be described as free. The stake limits guide covers the second row in detail.
Who enforces the rules
The Gambling Commission enforces the licence conditions and codes, including the bonus code, against licensed operators. The Advertising Standards Authority enforces the CAP Code on gambling advertising, including affiliate sites. If an offer seems to break its own terms, complain to the operator first; the guide on how to complain about a UK casino sets out the steps.
UK-licensed casinos, ranked by our score
Order = score out of 10. Every operator holds a Gambling Commission licence.
| # | Casino | Score | Welcome offer and significant terms | Payments | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place 1 |  Mecca GamesRank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited | Score: 7.8 out of 10, good | £20 bonus and 50 bonus spins after a £10 deposit Significant terms Min deposit £10, Paysafecard excluded; £20 bonus 10x wagering on selected games, max win £50; 50 bonus spins on Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus, 10x wagering, max win £50 |
| Visit Mecca Games (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Mecca Games |
| Place 2 |  666 CasinoJupiter Gaming Limited | Score: 7.8 out of 10, good | 20 spins on Big Bass Splash when you deposit and wager £20 Significant terms 18+, new players, first deposit; £20 must be wagered on Big Bass Splash within 7 days; spins on Big Bass Splash; 0x wagering on winnings | Not listed | Visit 666 Casino (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: 666 Casino |
| Place 3 |  Wink SlotsBroadway Gaming Ireland DF Limited | Score: 6.8 out of 10, good | 50% games bonus up to £100 on a £10 first deposit Significant terms Min deposit £10; 50% bonus up to £100; 10x bonus wagering; 5-day expiry |
| Visit Wink Slots (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Wink Slots |
| Place 4 |  LottomartMaple International Ventures Limited | Score: 7.1 out of 10, good | New customer prize wheel: win up to 500 bonus spins Significant terms New players, opt-in; min £10 cash stakes on slots; wheel used and spins claimed within 4 days; spins played within 24 hours; free spin winnings paid as cash (no wagering); max 1 claim | Not listed | Visit Lottomart (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Lottomart |
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Questions readers ask
What is the maximum wagering on a UK casino bonus in 2026?
Since 19 January 2026 GB-licensed operators cannot require bonus funds to be played through more than 10 times.
Can a sign-up offer include free bets and casino spins?
No. Since 19 January 2026 one incentive may cover only one product type: betting, casino, bingo or lottery.
Do the bonus rules apply to existing customers?
Yes. The 10x cap and the single-product rule apply to promotions for existing customers as well as new ones.
Does the 10x cap apply to the deposit as well as the bonus?
The code refers to playing through bonus funds. How each offer sets its base is stated in the operator's own terms, so check them for each bonus.
Are no wagering offers still allowed?
Yes. Offers that pay spin winnings as cash fall well within the cap, though they can still have spin values, expiry and win limits.