Upcoming changes
19 January 2026
Socially responsible incentives
The following changes to ‘Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 - Rewards and Bonuses’ will come into force on 19 January 2026:
- the new text in paragraphs 1 to 5 to make the structure and wording clearer
- the new requirement at paragraph 3a to limit the use of wagering requirements
- the new requirement at paragraph 3b to ban mixing of products within incentives.
You can read more about these changes including the final wording of the provisions in the response to the consultation published in March 2025.
19 March 2026
Key event reporting
The following changes to Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) Condition 15.2.1 - Reporting Key Events will come into force on 19 March 2026:
- new text in paragraph 1 to raise the reporting threshold for ‘operator status’ and ‘relevant persons and positions’ from 3 percent to 5 percent
- new text in paragraph 2 to expand the application of ‘relevant persons’ to include entities without share capital (we have excluded society lottery licensees from this change)
- new text in paragraph 3 to ensure that all relevant loans are reported, whether or not agreements are in writing.
An equivalent amendment will also take effect in the Licensing, Compliance and Enforcement Policy Statement under the Gambling Act 2005 to raise the threshold of shareholders to be listed from 3 percent to 5 percent under the section about Licensing (under the heading, ‘Identity and Ownership’).
You can read more about these changes including the final wording of the provisions in the response to the consultation published in December 2025.
6 April 2026
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
The following change to ‘Licence Condition 7.1.1 - Fair and transparent terms and practices’ will come into force on the 6 April 2026:
The reference to Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 will be removed from paragraph 4 and replaced with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
The following change to ‘Social Responsibility Code 5.1.9 - Other marketing requirements’ will come into force on the 6 April 2026:
The reference to Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 will be removed and replaced with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
You can read more about these changes including the final wording of the provisions in the response to the consultation published in December 2025.
Spring 2026
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
The following changes to ‘Social Responsibility Code 6.1.1 – Complaints and Disputes’ will come into force in Spring 2026. These changes depend upon when the Department for Business and Trade enact the changes in the DMCC Act 2024 that will abolish the ADR Regulations. That date has not been confirmed. We will update this page with the date when we can:
- footnote ‘a’ will be amended so that it refers to the accreditation procedure under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 rather than the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015
- footnote ‘b’ will be removed as it refers to ‘a list of providers that meet the Gambling Commission’s additional standards’ that will no longer be applicable
- the sentence under footnote ‘b’ which states, ‘Both lists are on the Commission’s website and will be updated from time to time’ and reference number 3 will also be removed as these refer to the Commission’s list of approved ADR providers.
You can read more about these changes including the final wording of the provisions in the response to the consultation published in December 2025.
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Our newsletter, eBulletin, is sent out every fortnight and includes updates and details of consultations and changes to the LCCP.