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Slots.Games
Great Britain

The rules every slot in Great Britain plays by

The Gambling Commission licenses every casino that can legally offer slots to people in Great Britain, and its rules decide how fast a slot spins, how much you can stake, what a bonus can demand and who can play. Here is each rule, when it started and what it means for you.

Checked against gamblingcommission.gov.uk, gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk on 3 October 2026
Great Britain, not the UKThese rules come from the Gambling Act 2005, which covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own, older gambling law.

How the games must play

£5 / £2

Online slot stake limits in Great Britain

The most you can stake on one online slot spin: £5, or £2 if you are 18 to 24.

£5 cap from 9 April 20252.5 s

Online slot game design rules (2.5 seconds, no autoplay)

Since 31 October 2021: at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no autoplay, no turbo or slam stops, no fake celebrations.

31 October 2021 Not offered

Why bonus buy is not offered on GB slots

Paying to jump straight into a slot bonus round is treated as breaching the Remote Technical Standards.

Warning published 17 January 2020

Your money

10×

Casino bonus rules: the 10× wagering cap

Since 19 January 2026, bonus wagering is capped at 10 times the bonus and offers cannot mix products.

19 January 2026 Since 2020

The credit card gambling ban

You cannot gamble with a credit card in Great Britain, directly or through an e-wallet, since 14 April 2020.

14 April 2020Before you deposit

Deposit limits: what operators must offer

Since 31 October 2025, you are asked to set a limit before your first deposit, and cuts take effect immediately.

Prompts and reminders: 31 October 2025. Deposit-limit definition: 30 September 2026 Staged

Financial vulnerability and risk checks

Light-touch checks are live; fuller Financial Risk Assessments are confirmed but staged, with no start date yet.

Vulnerability checks live since Aug 2024 / Feb 2025. FRA stage one start date not yet confirmed as of 3 October 2026

Protection

18+

Age and identity checks before you play

Since 7 May 2019, online operators must verify your name, address and date of birth before you play anything, including free demos.

7 May 2019Free

GAMSTOP: self-exclusion from every licensed site

One free registration blocks you from every GB-licensed gambling site for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.

Participation mandatory from 31 March 2020

Advertising, tax and licensing

Strong appeal

Gambling advertising rules and under-18s

Since 1 October 2022, gambling ads must not have strong appeal to under-18s, judged by how children would see them.

1 October 2022Responsible

Affiliate sites and the casinos behind them

Operators are responsible for their marketing affiliates, and must be able to drop one that breaks the advertising codes.

In force An offence

Advertising unlicensed casinos is a crime

Section 330 of the Gambling Act 2005 makes advertising unlawful gambling to people in Great Britain a criminal offence.

s.330 in force since 1 September 20071.1%

The statutory gambling levy

Since 6 April 2025, online operators pay 1.1% of gross gambling yield to fund research, prevention and NHS treatment.

6 April 2025 40%

Remote Gaming Duty: the tax on online slots

Online casino profits, including slots, are taxed at 40% from 1 April 2026, up from 21%.

40% for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2026

Land-based machines

Machines in pubs, arcades, bookmakers and casinos have their own categories with fixed maximum stakes and prizes. They are covered on our fruit machines page.