Online Slot Stake Limits 2026: What Counts as One Spin
Rachel Doughty
Updated
Casino slot games licensed by the UK are limited by the stake and are further limited based on your age. Each remote operator’s license includes a limitation, and as a result, all slots operated by that remote operator will include the stake limit. Below are the relevant laws and exemptions.
- £5Aged 25 and overper game cycle, since 9 April 2025
- £2Aged 18 to 24per game cycle, since 21 May 2025
- 2.5 sEvery playerthe least time between one spin and the next
Online slot stake limits: what the law says
Regulation 5 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
All remote casino operating licenses. A remote casino can not remove this limitation or offer slots where the stake is not capped.
The limitation is per game cycle. Each game has a cycle that ends when the game concludes (e.g. player loses all stake money or wins and the game concludes).
Set by age. The stake limit is £2 for players under 25, and £5 for players 25 and over. The casino uses the player’s date of birth verified at account opening.
Two start dates. The rules took effect April 9, 2025 with all players having a stake limit of £5. After the 6 week transitional period, the stake limit for players 18-24 was lowered to £2 on May 21, 2025.
What counts as one spin: the Commission's four examples
Gamble features and bonus rounds can sit inside a single game cycle. The guidance gives examples.
- Aged 27, stakes £5Nothing else can be staked until that game cycle ends. £5 is the most allowed.
- Aged 27, stakes £2The game may offer more stakes inside the same cycle, up to another £3, for a total of £5.
- Aged 19, stakes £2Nothing else can be staked until the cycle ends. £2 is the most allowed under 25.
- Aged 27, stakes £5, offered a gamble on the prizeRisking a prize already won does not count as a new stake, because no extra money is paid in. Lose the gamble and the balance simply stays £5 lower.
Multiple game cycles can be played in a single game. However, game cycles must be separated by at least 2.5 seconds. So a game of slots can't be programmed to split a £20 bet into four rapid £5 bets.
Which games the slot stake limits cover, and which they do not
The law defines an online slot as a game that uses reels and is offered online. Table games are not included in the definition.
| Game | Stake limit in law | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Online slots | £5, or £2 under 25 | Reel-based and played online, so regulation 5 applies |
| Online roulette and blackjack | None | Not reel-based; the Commission names both as outside the limit |
| Live dealer tables | None | Table games, not reel-based games |
| Slots in a land-based casino | Set by machine category | Gaming machines have their own stake limits; the online cap was designed to bring online slots into line with casinos |
The limits imposed by the casino on individual games, including table games, can be lower than the limits set by the UK Gambling Commission. Also, as part of the Bonus Terms and Conditions, some casinos can limit the size of the bets that can be placed while a game is funded with bonus money. See the UK Casino Bonus Rules for 2026.
Why the stake limit is £2 for 18 to 24 year olds
Limits on online gaming were announced in February 2024, and were effective from April 2025.
- Highest harm scores
- Under-25s have the highest average problem gambling score of any age group, according to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.
- Less money, more risk
- Lower disposable income, managing money for the first time, and brain development that still affects how risk is judged.
- A high-risk product
- NHS survey figures show a problem gambling rate of 8.7% for online slots, casino and bingo games, one of the highest of any activity.
Prior to stake limits being introduced, online slot games had no legal restrictions on stakes compared to gaming machines located in land-based venues. The majority of respondents to the government's consultation agreed with the introduction of stake limits.
The other rules every UK online slot must follow
The Commission's technical standards relating to game design, with respect to stake limits for online slot games, effective from 31 October 2021.
- 2.5 seconds a spinAt least 2.5 seconds from the start of one game cycle to the start of the next.
- No autoplayEvery spin needs you to start it. Autoplay is banned.
- No turbo or slam stopsFeatures that speed up play or suggest you can control the result are banned.
- No fake winsA "win" smaller than your stake cannot be celebrated with sounds or graphics.
- One slot at a timeYou cannot play several slots at once in the same session.
- Your net position on screenSince 17 January 2025, you must be shown how much you are up or down, and for how long you have played.
2.5 seconds a spin
No autoplay
No turbo or slam stops
No fake wins
One slot at a time
Your net position on screenStake limits are set by law and apply to individual spins. To set limits on the total amount you can gamble during a specific time period, for example a day or week, set limits on the amount you can deposit.
Online slots since the stake limits: the Commission's figures
Data showing what players staked and what they won on online slot games, for each quarter.
-
Jan to Mar 2025, before the limits£1,065m
-
Apr to Jun 2025, £5 cap from 9 April£1,131m
-
Jul to Sep 2025£1,171m
-
Oct to Dec 2025£1,237m
-
Jan to Mar 2026£1,251m
Online slots yield for 2025-26, from April to March, was estimated at £4,790 million, which is a growth of £642 million, from the previous year. The total stake for online slots for the same period increased from £85.9 billion to £94 billion. It is important to note that the total stake and the total amount lost for online slots for the year increased. As mentioned previously, the limit caps a single spin, not the total.
The data for 2025-26 is preliminary. The Commission published industry data on 17 September, 2026. The data does not explain the reason for the increase in yield. According to the Commission, there could be multiple reasons for the change in the trend.
Slot stake limits: questions
What is the maximum stake on online slots in the UK?
The current maximum stake per game cycle is set at £5 for persons 25 years and over, and £2 for 18 to 24 year olds. These limits are the same for all Gambling Commission licensed operators.
When did the £2 stake limit start?
21 May 2025. From 9 April 2025, all adults were subject to a £5 limit. Casinos had 6 weeks to implement a lower limit for under-25s.
Do stake limits apply to roulette and blackjack?
No, the limits will not affect other casino games. The Gambling Commission stated that the limits will only apply to online slot games.
Do bonus rounds count towards the stake limit?
Only if the stake is increased. If you won a prize and were then given the opportunity to stake that prize to gamble, the prize would not be considered a stake and the opportunity would not be subject to the £5 limit.
What happens on my 25th birthday?
On your 25th birthday, the £5 limit would apply to you instead of £2. Casinos verify the date of birth of all account holders and would use that date for the application of the limit.
Can a UK casino offer high stakes slots?
All remote gaming and casino licenses state that a £5 limit would apply. Therefore, all online slots offered by a remote gaming or casino site that is licensed would have to abide by this limit.
Rachel Doughty
Editor, Casino Warnings · Bristol
Rachel reads the Gambling Commission's registers and enforcement notices, and the terms casinos publish for British players, then writes them up in plain English.
- Sources
- The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, regulations 5 and 6; Gambling Commission online slots stake limit guidance (updated 16 June 2025) and remote technical standards; DCMS press release of 23 February 2024; Gambling Commission Industry Statistics, April 2025 to March 2026 (17 September 2026), table 10a.
