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A guidance note on the introduction of maximum stake limits for online slots.
Published: 30 January 2025
Last updated: 25 March 2025
This version was printed or saved on: 2 May 2025
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/online-slots-stake-limit-guidance
Overview: ## Introduction and background
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consulted in summer 2023 (opens in new tab) on proposals to introduce a maximum stake limit for online slots games in Great Britain and published a response (opens in new tab) in 2024 confirming a £5 limit for adults aged 25 and over, and a £2 limit for adults aged between 18 and 24 would be introduced.
A Statutory Instrument (SI) The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions)(Amendment) Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab) confirmed the stake limit.
The SI has the effect of adding a new condition to all remote casino operating licences.
As the response and the SI set out, the stake limits are for online slots only and do not apply to other casino games, such as roulette or blackjack.
5.—(1) The condition specified in this regulation is attached to each remote casino operating licence, including remote casino operating licences issued before this regulation comes into force.
(2) The condition is that, for an online slots game, the total amount which an individual may stake in relation to any game cycle may not exceed—
(a) £2, where the individual is less than 25 years old, and
(b) £5, where the individual is 25 years old or over.
(3) Where this condition is attached to a remote casino operating licence which was issued before this regulation comes into force, the condition has effect from the date on which this regulation comes into force.
(4) This regulation is subject to the transitional provision in regulation 6.
(5) In this regulation—
“game cycle” means, for an online slots game, the period beginning with the initiation of a game by the individual and ending at the point at which all money staked during the game has been lost or all money won during the game has been delivered to or made available for collection by the individual as the case may be.
“online slots game” means a casino game that is—
(a) a reel-based game, and
(b) is played online.
“reel-based game” means a game in which—
(a) moving or changing images or text are displayed by the use of visual representations of reels or other means, and
(b) an individual may win a prize or some other opportunity or advantage, as represented by the resulting arrangement of those images or text.
“stake” means to pay or risk an amount in connection with an online slots game.
Separately, the Gambling Commission confirmed in our online games design response in 2021 and our remote gambling and software technical standards (RTS) that for remote slots it must be a minimum of 2.5 seconds from the time a game is started until the next game cycle can be commenced (RTS 14D).
As the SI sets out, all games which meet the definition of an online slots game will be subject to a maximum stake per game cycle.
A game can have multiple game cycles providing that:
a) It must be a minimum of 2.5 seconds from the time a game is started until the next game cycle can be commenced.
b) It must be a minimum of 2.5 seconds from the time a game cycle is started until the next game cycle can be commenced.
For customers who are aged 25 and older, the maximum they can stake per game cycle for online slots is £5.
For customers who are aged 18 to 24, the maximum they can stake per game cycle for online slots is £2.
Scenario A
A customer aged 27 stakes £5 on an online slot game. No other opportunities to stake can be offered until the game cycle has concluded as £5 is the maximum stake permitted for customers aged 25 and over.
Scenario B
A customer aged 27 stakes £2 on an online slot game. Further staking opportunities could be offered within the same game cycle up to the value of £3 for a total staked per game cycle of £5.
Scenario C
A customer aged 19 stakes £2 on an online slot game. No other opportunities to stake can be offered until the game cycle has concluded as £2 is the maximum stake permitted for 18 to 24 year olds.
Scenario D
A customer aged 27 stakes £5 on an online slot game and wins a prize offer which they can accept (and end the game cycle) or reject (for a chance to win a larger prize). Importantly, the customer is not being asked to stake any additional funds. The customer chooses to accept the additional gamble but is unsuccessful and therefore receives £0.
The customer’s balance is reduced by £5 when they initiate the spin, and as they receive no prize their balance remains unchanged following the conclusion of the game cycle.
The implementation dates for the stake limit have been confirmed as 9 April 2025 for the £5 limit for all adults and 21 May 2025 for the £2 limit for adults aged 18 to 24.
For the avoidance of doubt the £5 limit will apply to all adults from 9 April until 21 May when the £2 limit for adults aged 18 to 24 takes effect, after which only adults aged 25 and over are permitted to stake up to £5.