The rule
Paid 'feature buy-ins' (bonus buy) on slots are treated as non-compliant with the Remote Technical Standards (RTS 3A rules transparency, RTS 14A not encouraging bigger stakes or loss chasing). The Commission found six operators offering them, one priced at over £3,000 to enter the bonus, and told all licensees to stop. This was a regulatory warning applying existing standards, not a new statutory ban.
Who it applies to
All Gambling Commission licensees offering online slot-style games to British customers
What it means for you
- If you have seen a "buy feature" button on a streamer's slot, it will not be on the GB-licensed version of the game.
- The Commission's view is that paying a large lump sum to skip to the bonus encourages bigger stakes and loss chasing.
- A site offering bonus buy to British players is a warning sign that it is not licensed in Great Britain. See how bonus buy works.
Quick answers
When did this rule start?
Warning published 17 January 2020 (often misreported as a 2019 ban)
Who does it apply to?
All Gambling Commission licensees offering online slot-style games to British customers