Gambling Commission sets new deposit limit rules for online operators

It's fantastic to see simple but impactful changes being made to better support customers. The behavioural audit work of BIT's Gambling Policy & Research Unit has done some fantastic research to support policymakers and regulators in making gambling environments safer. Specific credit to Tom van Zantvliet, Eleanor Collerton, David Hume, PhD FCA, Oliver A., Bálint Dercsényi, Ambika Bhura and Ruth Persian for this excellent audit research.

This has honestly made my day...and actually made part of my career-happiness to date. The Gambling Commission are now mandating gambling companies to provide deposit limit tools as free-text entry (where people type in the amount they want to limit themselves too), as opposed to choosing a limit value from a dropdown menu list of increasing denominations (as has been the industry standard). Back in 2020 at BIT, we ran an RCT with actual gambling customers at a major online gambling platform. We found that a free-text based deposit limit tool almost halved the average daily deposit limit players set themselves vs. the industry standard dropdown of values approach. We showed that these tools, meant to empower players to protect themselves, were clearly anchoring people towards setting higher limits, thereby reducing the protective power of the tool. (You can check that work out here : https://lnkd.in/eXTyhUG6) Our recommedation was straightforward: deposit limit tools should not contain dropdowns of denominations; they should be free-text based. BIT's gone on to do so much more important work on untangling where and how the gambling industry can do better to protect people from harm. I remember being so stoked when the deposit limit trial was cited in the UK Government's white paper on gambling legislation a few years ago! And to see our recommendation now make it into regulation...! I hope you're all suitably proud and stoked too Aisling Ní Chonaire, Lauren L., Eleanor Collerton, Nida Broughton, Rosanna Barry

Behavioural audits have been a key tool we've used throughout the Gambling Policy and Research Units' four years of work, to help explore and systematically assess how design practices may impact consumer behaviour. They provide a clear, structured framework for identifying actionable opportunities for change too. It was great to see announcements this week from the Gambling Commission regarding updates to deposit limits, which strongly align with some of our own recommendations, from a Behavioural audit we conducted in March 2024. Big thanks to the team involved in this project and our gambling audit work more broadly Tom van Zantvliet Andreea Faluvegi Bálint Dercsényi David Hume, PhD FCA Oliver A. Craig Johnson Laurence Fenn Libby Woodhouse Ambika Bhura and old colleagues Ruth Persian Aisling Ní Chonaire Esther Hadman Dr. Si McNair Nida Broughton

Clearer UK deposit limit rules arrive for online gambling. Data and info: https://lnkd.in/e6GV8Cm6 • From 31 October 2025, new customers set a limit before the first deposit and tools sit on home and deposit pages 🙂 • By 30 June 2026, all sites must offer a true deposit limit only and label others differently “empower consumers to have greater awareness and control over their gambling”, Helen Rhodes, Commission Director of Major Policy Projects ✅ Gambling Commission

The UK Gambling Commission has announced new rules designed to make deposit limits more transparent and consistent for online players. The changes, which will take effect in stages between October 2025 and June 2026, aim to help consumers better manage their gambling spend and maintain greater control over their activity. https://lnkd.in/dKTKUq47

Last week, we published our first research report into the illegal online gambling market. Our Director of Research and Statistics, Ben Haden, discusses in our latest blog post how we’re taking a consumer-driven approach to understanding who uses these illegal sites, and what their reasons are for using them. “Our research has shown that some consumers knowingly and systematically engage with illegal websites – doing so because they want to gamble on new markets, with alternative currencies, or to explore new games. Others are not aware that they are using an unlicensed website but use search engines or follow recommendations on social media and forums to find what they consider to be better odds or markets of interest to them. We know that consumers place a high degree of importance on regulation, and the need for gambling companies to be overseen by a regulator and held accountable for their conduct if it falls short of standards. The lack of regulation and consumer protection in the illegal market is therefore clearly a concern to us, and our ongoing work with consumers will focus on understanding the relative size of the key audience groups that use illegal gambling websites, and how we appropriately target our resources as a result within our regulatory remit.” To read the blog post in full, visit our website 💻 https://orlo.uk/YEcyy

The UK Gambling Commission is tightening its rules around player protection. Starting June 30, 2026, all online gambling operators in the UK will need to give players the option to set deposit limits based on how much they put into their accounts. This update aims to make limit-setting clearer and more consistent across the industry, helping players stay in control and promoting more sustainable gambling habits. The first stage of these new rules comes into effect on October 31, 2025, giving operators time to adapt before full implementation. 💬 Helen Rhodes, UK Gambling Commission's Director of Major Policy Projects: "These further changes will also bring consistency and clarity for those consumers choosing to set deposit limits, while still supporting gambling businesses to offer customer choice for different forms of limits." Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dVMErVEa

#InTheSpotlightFGN - UK Gambling Commission introduces new rules for online gambling deposit limits starting July 2026, focusing on clarity and consistency in defining and communicating limits. Operators must remind consumers to review limits every six months. #UK #GamblingCommission #DepositLimits https://lnkd.in/dmTknDh4

The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) has launched a review into how online gambling operators use behavioural techniques to influence player decisions. The study found that nudges, framing, and default settings are common tools that may encourage longer play and higher stakes. The regulator will now examine whether stricter measures are needed to ensure operators meet their duty of care and to strengthen consumer protection. https://lnkd.in/gUw9WA4p

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