UK gambling promotions in 2026: the 10x wagering cap and mixed-product ban explained

What is the 10x wagering cap?

A wagering requirement is the amount a customer must stake before bonus funds become withdrawable. Following its consultation, the Gambling Commission confirmed a maximum of 10 times the incentive amount, set out in LCCP Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1. It came into force on 19 January 2026 and applies to all licences except gaming machine technical and software licences.

The Commission said in its announcement that capping wagering at ten reduces the likelihood of harm and improves transparency while keeping consumer choice.

What counts as a mixed-product promotion?

The new code provision says licensees "must not include more than one type of gambling product (betting, casino, bingo and lottery) within an incentive". The Commission's guidance for operators explains that the aim is to ban the mixing of products within an individual offer, including where terms are linked and shared. Both the qualifying activity and the reward should sit in the same product category.

There is an important exception. The Commission's consultation response says incentives that let the customer choose freely where to use credits or bonus money are not affected. Its example is £10 of credit to use as the customer wishes.

How do the slots stake limits fit in?

Separately, the Commission's stake limit guidance confirms that online slots stakes are capped at £5 per game cycle for adults aged 25 and over, live since 9 April 2025, and £2 for adults aged 18 to 24, live since 21 May 2025.

What does this mean for operator marketing?

• Rebuild the welcome journey. Cross-sell offers that unlocked casino spins with a sports bet need replacing with single-product offers or genuinely free-choice credit.
• Rewrite the terms in plain English. A 10x cap makes offers easier to explain. That is an opportunity to compete on clarity rather than headline size.
• Audit CRM triggers. Automated bonus journeys built before January 2026 may still combine products in ways the code no longer allows.
• Check under-18 appeal. The rule that ads must not be of strong appeal to under-18s still applies to every creative, influencer and affiliate placement.

What does it mean for affiliates?

Bonus comparison content that ranks offers by the size of the headline figure needs updating to reflect the new terms, and every review should show the wagering requirement clearly. The ASA has said that primary responsibility for affiliate marketing remains with the gambling operator, which means operators will expect affiliate copy to keep pace. Accurate, dated and well-sourced pages are also the kind of content our post on GEO and AEO for iGaming affiliates recommends.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Check the current Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice and take advice for your own licence.