New Betting Bonus Rules to Enhance Consumer Protection in the UK – Daily Business

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is tightening the rules on how gambling operators offer bonuses, and these changes could make a big difference for players. Starting December 19, 2025, gambling promotions must be much clearer, fairer, and less misleading.

One of the biggest updates is a ban on multi-step bonuses that require players to engage in different types of gambling just to claim a reward. In the past, you might have had to place a sports bet and play a casino game to qualify for a promotion. Now, operators must provide options tailored to UK regulations, ensuring players aren’t pressured into activities they wouldn’t normally choose. As Genevieve Cruz from Techopedia points out, finding the best online casinos in the UK can be time-consuming, given their operating amount. Players should consider the wealth of games, loyalty rewards, speed of payouts, and more. This shift aims to make promotions more transparent and aligned with responsible gambling practices.

Another major change is the cap on wagering requirements. The UKGC is capping wagering requirements at 10 times the bonus amount. That means if you get a £10 bonus, the most you’ll have to wager before cashing out is £100.

This change is long overdue. Many operators have been setting ridiculous playthrough conditions—sometimes 30x or even 50x the bonus—making it nearly impossible to see any real benefit. The new limit should make bonus offers more transparent and genuinely rewarding. Tim Miller, research & policy executive director of the commission, said that these reforms will better protect consumers from gambling harm and give consumers far clearer information on and assurances of bonus offers before signing up.

Predictably, not everyone is thrilled. Some gambling operators must rethink their promotions, which could mean fewer bonuses overall. However, according to Nick Arron, a gambling law expert at Poppleston Allen, the UKGC could have gone even further. Instead of completely banning wagering requirements, they’ve set a reasonable limit.

For players, these changes should make it easier to trust bonus offers. You won’t have to spend hours combing through the fine print to determine what’s required.

In short, promotions should become simpler, fairer, and less frustrating. No more “jump through five hoops before you get your reward” deals. No more insane wagering requirements that make cashing out feel like an impossible dream.

Of course, gambling operators will adapt. Some might reduce the number of bonuses they offer or focus more on loyalty rewards rather than appealing promos. But overall, these changes should make gambling a little more transparent—one could argue that this is something the industry has needed for a while. The range of promotional terms is also a matter of compliance for operators to think through equally. Although these changes will not prove effective for long before the close of this year, operators must use that time to examine their current promotional policy and consider any changes necessary to achieve compliance by 19 December 2025.

As December 2025 approaches, seeing how operators adjust their strategies will be interesting. One thing’s for sure: gambling promotions in the UK are about to change.