From the 19th of December 2025, gambling companies will be unable to offer promotional bonuses unless they meet certain conditions. In the wake of new regulations from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), licensed gambling operators in the UK will no longer be able to offer promotions that require customers to play more than one game.
These new restrictions come after concerns that customers are at risk whenever they accept mixed-product bonus offers. This ban follows the findings of a 2023 consultation and the government’s white paper titled ‘High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age.’ The white paper highlighted that most mixed-product promotions have complex clauses that may confuse or mislead users. By implementing new restrictions, the government aims to protect gamblers and ensure that gambling platforms and processes are transparent.
With these new regulations set to become effective in December, gamblers are on the search for reliable and compliant platforms where they can go about their activities. Finding safe, secure casino sites is essential to having a great gaming experience. Players can skip searching all over the internet for top platforms and read up on this finely curated list of reviews of UK casino sites. These reviews have valuable information on platforms that comply with regulations and prioritise user safety and experience.
The new regulations will also place a cap on the number of times players can re-stake bonuses before claiming winnings. On some platforms, players have to stake their bonus wins up to 50 times before they can withdraw their winnings. The Commission has earlier stated its concerns over this practice. It has also set a new limit for players to re-stake their winnings. It is now capped at 10 times. This cap will bring a balance between the viability of the games and the protection of customers.
These restrictions from the Commission have been met with different reactions from groups and stakeholders in the gambling industry. Public health organisations, consumer advocacy groups, and charities are all in support of the new regulations, seeing them as a way to protect customers and to ensure that the market is transparent.
However, industry stakeholders have doubts about the restrictions. They argue that banning mixed-product offers will reduce the diversity of products and the flexibility that the promotions offer clients. They also have concerns about the impact the ban will have on revenue generation and customer engagement. In 2024, the UK online gambling market generated $7.37 billion (£5.53 billion) and is projected to reach $15.09 billion (£11.33 billion) by 2030. (Calculated using $1 ≈ £0.75).
In response to these concerns, the Commission has stated that these new rules will only apply to bonus promotions that require customers to bet across different sports or events.
These changes are part of the Commission’s plan to review the Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 (Rewards and Bonuses) within the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). According to Tim Miller, the Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, these regulations will help state the Commission’s expectations regarding promotions and provide clarity for licensees. With these new rules, it hopes to safeguard consumers and help them understand gambling offers before they sign up.
