UKGC Gambling Limits A major change to online gambling is landing for UK bingo players this week. New deposit-limit rules are changing exactly how much customers can put into their accounts, whilst withdrawals will no longer give them extra room to deposit.
The Gambling Commission's new rules mean a £100 gross deposit limit really means £100 deposited. This is regardless of whether money is subsequently withdrawn from the account.
The changes become mandatory across the regulated online gambling market on 30 September 2026. However, some major operators have already introduced the new system.
For UK bingo players, the change could be particularly noticeable when moving money in and out of an account during a session.
888 introduced its new UK deposit-limit policy on September 22. Meanwhile, William Hill has also rolled out its new system ahead of the industry-wide deadline.
What is a gross deposit limit?
The biggest change is the formal definition of a gross deposit limit.
Under the new rules, a gross deposit limit restricts the total amount a customer deposits into their gambling account over a particular period.
Crucially, withdrawals do not increase the amount a customer can subsequently deposit. For example, if a customer sets a £100 monthly gross deposit limit and deposits £100, they have reached their limit for that period.
Even if they subsequently withdraw £50, they cannot deposit another £50 simply because money has been withdrawn. This differs from a net deposit limit, where withdrawals can effectively restore some of the available deposit allowance.
The Gambling Commission says only gross limits can now be described to customers as “deposit limits”.
Daily, weekly and monthly limits
Operators must offer gross deposit limits across three specified periods:
- 24 hours
- 7 days
- One month
Customers can therefore choose the timeframe that suits their own budgeting.
Where multiple limits are set at the same time, the most restrictive limit applies.
The Gambling Commission gives the example of a customer setting a £10 daily limit and a £100 weekly limit. In that situation, the customer could deposit no more than £10 per day and £70 across the seven-day period.
Once a customer reaches a gross deposit limit, the gambling system must prevent further deposits until the relevant period resets or the customer takes action to increase the limit.
Any increase remains subject to a minimum 24-hour cooling-off period.
Deposit limits must be easier to find
The changes are not simply about the mathematics of how limits work. The Gambling Commission is also changing how operators present financial controls to customers.
Where an operator offers different types of financial limits, the gross deposit limit must have at least equal prominence to the other options. The Commission has also specified that only a gross deposit limit can be labelled a “deposit limit”, while other controls can be described separately.
Operators can continue to offer additional tools, including net deposit limits, stake limits and loss limits. Financial-limit facilities must also remain easily accessible, including from the operator's homepage and deposit pages, with the number of clicks required to reach them minimised.
Some gambling sites have already changed
Although September 30 is the Gambling Commission's formal implementation date, customers on some major gambling sites are already seeing the new system.
888 says its new UK deposit-limit policy became effective on September 22, 2026.
Its system now offers both net and gross deposit limits, and customers can select daily, weekly, or monthly limits. The operator says decreases take effect immediately, while increases are subject to a 24-hour cooling-off period followed by customer confirmation.
William Hill has also published information about its new gross deposit-limit option, with its customer guidance stating that the new system became effective from September 22.
That means the change is already visible to some customers before the Gambling Commission's industry-wide deadline arrives.
The rules were originally due earlier
The new requirements were not originally scheduled for September.
The second phase of the Gambling Commission's changes was initially due to come into effect on 30 June 2026. In May, however, the regulator announced that operators would be given an additional three months to complete the necessary technical work.
The deadline was subsequently moved to September 30. The Gambling Commission said the extension followed stakeholder feedback and was intended to give operators more time for technical development.
What this means for bingo players
For all online bingo customers, the most noticeable change is likely to be the clearer separation between money deposited and money withdrawn.
A player who deposits £50, wins £100 and withdraws £50 would still have used £50 of a £100 gross deposit limit. The withdrawal does not restore the £50 under a gross system. That is different from a net deposit limit, where the calculation takes withdrawals into account.
The distinction could therefore matter most for regular bingo players who move money in and out of their accounts during a session or over a longer period. Operators can still offer net deposit limits alongside gross limits. However, the gross option must be available and presented with equal prominence where multiple limit types are offered.
Another change in the Gambling Commission's wider reforms
The deposit-limit changes are part of a broader programme of changes to customer-led financial controls. The Gambling Commission's rules require operators to provide customers with accessible facilities to set financial limits. Meanwhile, customers must also be prompted to consider setting a limit.
Existing customers who have not set a limit must be prompted to review that position at least annually. Customers can reduce their limits immediately. However, increasing a limit requires a cooling-off period of at least 24 hours followed by positive confirmation.
The regulator says the overall aim is to give customers facilities that allow them to set and maintain a gambling budget appropriate to their own circumstances.
What happens next?
September 30 marks the point at which the new requirements apply across the regulated remote gambling market.
For bingo players, the practical change is relatively straightforward. A “deposit limit” will now have a specific meaning. That limit will be based on the total amount deposited rather than the amount deposited after withdrawals are taken into account.
The changes also mean customers should see greater consistency between gambling sites when looking for financial-limit tools.
Meanwhile, for operators, the September deadline represents the latest stage of a regulatory programme that has required changes to both customer interfaces and the underlying systems used to monitor deposits and financial limits. With some operators already making the changes ahead of the deadline, customers are likely to see the new terminology and controls become increasingly common across UK bingo, slots, casino and other gambling sites over the coming days.
Ben has been an massive bingo enthusiast and fan since playing at the seaside as a kid. Dedicated to bringing you the latest and best bingo news from the UK
