The government's review of the Gambling Act 2005 led to the April 2023 white paper, High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age. More than three years later, most of its headline measures for online casino players are in force. Online slot stake limits have applied since spring 2025, the statutory levy has been collected since 2025 and bonus wagering has been capped at 10x since 19 January 2026. Financial Risk Assessments and a gambling ombudsman are the main pieces still missing.
Measures Now in Force
Online slot stake limits are live. Since 9 April 2025, players aged 25 and over have been able to stake no more than £5 per game cycle (for most slots, that means per spin), and since 21 May 2025 the limit for 18 to 24 year olds has been £2. The limits come from the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. They apply to online slots only, not to roulette, blackjack or other casino games, and there is no higher tier for players who pass extra checks.
The statutory levy is also in force. The Gambling Levy Regulations 2025 took effect on 6 April 2025 and replaced the old system of voluntary contributions. Online casino, betting and bingo operators pay 1.1% of their gross gambling yield. The Gambling Commission issues invoices on 1 September each year and payment is due before 1 October, so operators are paying their second annual bill this month. The money is split roughly 50% to treatment, 30% to prevention and 20% to research.
Two more sets of rules affect players directly. Financial vulnerability checks have been required since 30 August 2024: once a customer's net deposits pass £150 in a rolling 30 days, the operator must check public records such as bankruptcies and county court judgments. The threshold was £500 until 27 February 2025. And since 19 January 2026, wagering requirements on any promotion have been capped at 10x, while offers that require two types of gambling, such as a sports bet to unlock casino spins, are banned.
Measures Still in Progress
Deposit limits are changing again. Since 31 October 2025, operators have had to prompt customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit, remind them every six months to review their account and apply any request to lower a limit immediately. From 30 September 2026 they must also offer gross deposit limits, and only a limit based purely on the money paid in may be called a 'deposit limit'. This second phase was originally due on 30 June 2026.
Financial Risk Assessments are confirmed but not yet live. On 7 July 2026 the Gambling Commission said it would introduce them in stages, starting with the largest operators. Stage 1 covers customers aged 25 and over whose net deposits exceed £5,000 in a rolling 24 hours, or £2,500 for under-25s. At the final stage the triggers fall to £1,000 in 24 hours or £3,000 over 90 days for over-25s, and £750 in 24 hours or £2,000 over 90 days for under-25s. The Commission has not yet set a start date.
The ombudsman has not arrived. The white paper said the government would work with the industry to create one within a year, and would legislate for a statutory ombudsman if that approach did not deliver. There is still no statutory gambling ombudsman, so disputes follow the existing route: the operator's own complaints process first, then its approved alternative dispute resolution provider, such as IBAS or eCOGRA.
What It Means for Players
For most people who play online slots at modest stakes, the changes are already part of the experience. You cannot stake more than £5 a spin on an online slot, or £2 if you are 18 to 24. Welcome offers carry no more than 10x wagering, and new accounts ask you to set a limit before you deposit. Financial vulnerability checks use public records rather than documents, so you do not need to do anything.
Higher spenders will see more change once Financial Risk Assessments begin. The Commission says they will be document-free, carried out through credit reference agencies with no effect on your credit score, and that its pilot could assess 97% of customers above the thresholds without friction. Taxes are rising too, although they sit outside the review: Remote Gaming Duty rose from 21% to 40% of operators' remote gaming profits from 1 April 2026.
Updated 23 September 2026: corrected the stake limit, levy, financial check and wagering details against Gambling Commission guidance.
