Slot site regulation – latest updates affecting players

Slot site regulation – latest updates affecting players
Claudia Hartley
by Claudia Hartley Last updated:

It’s always busy in the world of UK slot regulation! And if you’ve been feeling like there’s a new rule or restriction every time you log in lately, you’re probably not wrong. From stake caps and bonus changes to affordability checks and advertising restrictions, there’s a lot to keep track of.

This update covers the biggest ongoing and upcoming changes. The new government hasn’t shaken things up just yet, they seem content to continue along the regulatory path set by their predecessors. Here are some of the key things happening.

Upcoming changes for online games design

From January this year, new guidelines for online game design were introduced. These included a 5 second minimum ‘turn’ speed, no more autoplay, no more simultaneous multi-gaming, and a ban on winning sound effects when your win is less than your stake.

If you’re interested in these changes then we’ve got a complete rundown on the game design changes that you’ll be starting to see already.

Affordability checks

Affordability checks (vulnerability checks) are without a doubt the most controversial responsible gambling measure introduced in recent years. Phase 1 began in August 2024 where net losses of £500 (over 30 days) triggered a light touch background check. 

The next phase was introduced in February 2025 and saw the threshold lowered to £150 and could become more intrusive if the findings were a cause for concern. 

While these checks have repeatedly been described as ‘light-touch’ and ‘frictionless’, there has been considerable concern that they’re not living up to this claim. Concerns around privacy, postcode discrimination, and the push towards unregulated sites are all valid – and shared by players and operators alike.

Online slot stake limits

In order to reduce the risk of seriously fast, seriously high-stakes losses on slots, online stake limits were introduced in September 2024.  The limits, set at £2 per spin for under 25s and £5 per spin for over 25s, weren't largely welcomed. Many industry insiders worried it was excessively low. However, harm reduction groups welcomed the cap. 

10x wagering cap from 19 December 2025

One of the changes that will come into play later this year will be music to the ears of many keen players. Bonus offers must no longer require players to wager more than 10x the bonus amount before they can access their winnings. 

This change will help to prevent misleading promotions and limit excessive play for those chasing high wagering targets. It’s a really positive step towards fairer bonuses for UK players, with the Gambling Commission’s Tim Miller commenting: “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.”

Mixed product promotions ban

Ever been frustrated by a ‘spend x on slots get £10 in free sports bets’ offer? From late 2025, operators will no longer be allowed to offer them. Any bonuses that span multiple gambling products – for example slots and sports, will be banned.

The reason is simple: mixed product promotions are inherently confusing. They encourage players to bet across products they wouldn’t usually engage with, almost always leading to greater losses.

Marketing preferences change

A good call for all players with an inbox bursting at the seams with unwanted promotions! Operators must now opt players out of marketing by default, but allow them to opt in and set preferences by product (so poker and slots, but not sports or bingo, for example). 

Casinos must make it clear and easy to manage and it should be available for email, SMS, and any other contact methods. The UKGC specified that  “Consent must be meaningful and specific – a blanket ‘yes’ is no longer good enough.”

The levy

The levy was confirmed in 2024 and was rolled out in April. It applies to all gambling operators whether land based or online – excluding the National Lottery – but that’s a story for another day!

The contribution is scaled by the type of business and its size, and ranges from 0.1% to 1.1% of gross profits. The proceeds will be split between the NHS, third sector organisations and education campaigns. It’ll be overseen by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

Illegal / unlicensed casinos

Black market, unlicensed or illegal (or whatever terminology you choose to use) casinos are an ongoing, growing problem for the UKGC and other regulatory bodies around the world.

Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the UKGC addressed the problem at ICE 2025 earlier this year. 

Black Market Evaluation Report

More recently the Black Market Evaluation Report commissioned by Deal Me Out outlines some worrying trends, confirming industry fears. 

Produced in partnership with Social Intent, the report revealed some startling data and trends among UK players when it comes to playing at black market casinos:  

  • An estimated 420,000 school children have engaged with unregulated sites.
  • 61% of respondents reported problems withdrawing from these casinos – largely theft of winnings.
  • Players being unable to tell the difference between licensed and black market sites.
  • £10m+ deposited at 10 black market casinos – £3.6m of which was deposited by problem gamblers.
  • Universal Credit recipients depositing significant amounts at black market sites.
  • Over half of players who have accessed self-exclusion schemes like GamStop have bypassed these schemes to play at black market casinos.

Overregulation driving black market use?

Worryingly, it’s anticipated that the introduction of stake limits and affordability checks will increase play at unlicensed casinos. The tightening of regulations in other countries such as Germany, Netherlands, France and Sweden has driven players to unlicensed sites and Britain may likely go down the same path.

No funding from the levy

Earlier this year the UKGC outlined how the anticipated £100 million generated by the levy would be allocated. Tackling the growth in unlicensed casino use did not feature. This seems short sighted. 

Vulnerable players targeted

The most devastating news is that some unscrupulous casinos are actively targeting vulnerable players. MyStake were caught actively targeting self excluded players with their tagline ‘Best Online Casino Not on GamStop for UK Players’. Pretty concrete evidence that there are casinos out there using increasingly abhorrent methods to seek out players vulnerable to problem gambling.

Unlicensed? Illegal? Black market?

For clarity, illegal/black market/unlicensed casinos are those that break the law by operating, without any kind of licence at all, or advertise directly to UK customers without holding a UK Gambling Commission licence. They may have a licence from Malta, Curacao, the Anjouan Islands, or anywhere else. However, the fact remains, these casinos should be avoided by UK players, as they don’t afford you any protection if something goes wrong.

Irony

It seems a brutal irony that the tightening of regulations – ostensibly to protect players – could well contribute to more players being at risk playing at black market casinos.

Gambling advertising coming under pressure

Gambling advertising is always easy to pick on, but recent scrutiny has come about over celebrity endorsements, social media targeting, and visibility to under 18s. There will certainly be more changes to regulation coming, with the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) doing the heavy lifting.

At present, it’s worth considering if gambling restrictions actually work, and if so, what can be done about the flagrant disregard for them that illegal operators seem to have? We’ve also talked before about the overly emotional language used by researchers to talk about gambling advertising. Is gambling advertising creating new gamblers, or is it just telling those who gamble anyway, where to get a better deal?

Summary

The UK gambling space is in the middle of a once in a generation transformation. With new limits, tougher checks, and a growing crackdown on bad apples, the aim is clear: Protect players without stifling the industry. But, striking that balance isn’t easy.

The Gambling Commission has a lot on its plate, what with staying ahead of illegal operators responding to genuine concerns from both players and licensees, and making sure it doesn’t lose the room entirely when big changes land. All eyes are on how these updates play out and it’s looking like the next year could be one of the most telling yet.

Claudia Hartley
by Claudia Hartley Last updated:

As she approaches ten years of writing for the gambling industry, Claudia now considers herself a casino jargon expert. At Slot Gods she hopes to help other players enjoy the best bonuses, and steer clear of the sites that hide nasty surprises in the T&Cs! A bit of a nerd at heart, Claudia has always been fascinated by the mechanics behind slots games. She loves nothing more than spinning the reels of the latest releases, especially those with interesting maths models and unique features.