Gamblers are set for a major win as a new law will soon cap bonus wagering requirements.
The changes, which will come into force on 19 January 2026, will cap casino bonus wagering requirements at a maximum of 10x times the bonus amount, a significant drop compared to the wagering requirements some sites have of 65x and higher.
- Big Win for Players: From £650 to £100
- The Countdown is On
- Why Wait till January?
- Why Do Wagering Requirements Exist?
- The Loophole Fear
Big Win For Players: From £650 to £100
So, how will these new gambling rules make bonuses fairer?
The new rules from the Gambling Commission are designed to protect players from potentially harmful bonus offers.
The new rules address wagering requirements where offers, such as a £10 bonus, could come with a 65x wagering requirement, forcing a player to bet a staggering £650 before being able to withdraw any winnings.
The Gambling Commission states that such high requirements “could confuse consumers and lead them to gamble for longer, and faster, than they are used to”.
The move to cap the requirement at ten is intended to “decrease the likelihood of harm, reduce complexity, and improve transparency while maintaining consumer choice.”
The Gambling Commission’s Executive Director for Research and Policy, Tim Miller, has stated that “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.”
The Countdown is On
The new rules were supposed to come into effect in December but were pushed back to January 2026.
The Commission extended the implementation date of new product promotion rules following an “industry request”.
A statement from the Commission said it granted the month-long extension “to allow the industry more time to prepare for the wide-spread changes”.
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Why Do Wagering Requirements Exist?
While some have argued that high wagering requirements are necessary to prevent “bonus abuse”, the new regulation seeks to strike a balance between consumer protection and commercial viability.
The Gambling Commission’s consultation document noted that a complete ban on wagering requirements or a lower cap could lead to an increase in fraud and “bonus abuse”, but that the 10x limit provides a solution that maintains consumer freedom while decreasing potential harm.
The Loophole Fear
Will casinos sidestep the new 10x wagering limit with ‘Game Weighting’?
Despite the UK Gambling Commission’s confirmed cap of bonus wagering requirements at 10x, there could still be a significant “game weighting” loophole could undermine the reform’s intended benefits.
Game weighting allows operators to makes certain games contribute less toward a bonus.
- So if you had a 10x wagering requirement
- But a bet on a game like Blackjack only has a game weighting of 10%
- Then it effectively means the real requirement is actually 100x.
While the Gambling Commission acknowledged these concerns, its final consultation response did not introduce new rules to regulate game weighting.
The Commission stated that it “do[es] not think it is necessary to review rules on weightings attached to wagering requirements at this time,” but warned it could take action if “poor behaviour” emerges
This position has led critics to argue that the industry may still be able to trap customers in prolonged gambling cycles despite the headline cap.
At WhichBingo we will continue to give you the best advice when it comes to picking a new casino site, so you can make an informed decision.
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