Gambling Commission launches consultation on deposit limit proposals
Regulator’s policy proposal involves players having to set financial limits before making their first deposit with a UK operator from 31 October
The Gambling Commission (GC) has launched a consultation period asking for views on how new mandatory deposit limits should be implemented in the UK.
In February, the regulator announced new regulations, meaning customers will be obliged to set financial limits before making their first deposit with a licensed operator.
The new measure, set to come into effect from 31 October 2025, has been designed with the aim of “increasing consumer control over deposit limits”.
The rule is one of the changes the GC is making to its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCPP) following the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review being published in April 2023.
As part of the process, the regulator has confirmed it will oversee a consultation process, which is set to last until 30 April, encouraging participants to have their say on how the commission can improve the level of clarity and transparency surrounding the topic.
The GC’s update reads: “All stakeholders, including consumers, gambling licensees and members of the public are invited to share their views on these proposals.”
When the policy was confirmed last month, the GC said: “New rules will give consumers more effective ways to manage their gambling by making it easier to set and maintain deposit limits on their online accounts, in ways that work best for them.
“These rules will take good practice already offered by some operators and expand that so customers can expect the same standards across the industry.”
Operators will also be obliged to remind consumers of their transaction history every six months to help assess whether they want to change or set new deposit limits.
Previously, deposit limits worked as a tool to limit the amount of money a customer could deposit within a certain period of time.
More recently, some operators have factored in the total amount withdrawn, creating a ‘net deposit limit’. The GC has claimed that the difference can be “confusing” for consumers.
The consultation outlines an aim to ensure the term ‘deposit limit’ is used “consistently by operators”.
The form reads: “Referring to ‘net’ deposit limits as ‘deposit limits’ is potentially misleading as ‘net’ deposit limits automatically enable customers to continue to deposit funds in excess of their self-determined deposit limit.”
Last month, Tim Miller, GC executive director for research and policy, said: “These changes illustrate our commitment to ensuring gambling is fair and open by improving consumer empowerment and choice.
“We will now continue our work to deliver our remaining white paper commitments, including our programme of evaluation.”