Gambling Commission Sets Tough New Affordability Rules

04 November 2026

In January 2024, the UK Gambling Commission launched a major consultation on proposed new rules aimed at tackling gambling harm online. The regulator called on industry, consumers, and other stakeholders to weigh in on plans to tighten operator obligations around identifying and preventing customer gambling-related harm through financial affordability assessments.

Under the proposals, online gambling operators would need to take active steps to identify customers at risk of gambling harm related to financial vulnerability. The commission said it was seeking evidence from interested parties on what an appropriate threshold for triggering affordability checks should be, and the nature of those checks.

The consultation set out detailed proposals for two tiers of financial assessment for online gambling. A financial vulnerability check would apply for customers with net losses of £125 within a 30-day period, or £500 net losses over 365 days. For customers incurring £1,000 in net losses within 24 hours or £2,000 within 90 days, a more comprehensive financial risk assessment would take place.

The checks have been phased in over 2024, initially applying to higher thresholds of £500 net deposits per 30 days. That was subsequently lowered to £150 in February.

Importantly, the commission stressed that these checks are planned only for online gambling and would not impact betting shops or racetracks. Affordability assessments are common in online gambling for predicting players' vulnerability to spending beyond their means, gambling for financial reasons, or otherwise losing control.

The online software that runs slot machines and online bingo is similar, and both games share a similar progression of increased spend. Where the threshold is a combination of all gambling activity within an account, online bingo accounts will be subject to the same financial affordability checks.

The proposed approach aims to be "frictionless" and avoid user interruption by relying on publicly available data. The majority of assessments would be conducted via credit reference agencies, with only a minority of customers needing to provide extra information directly.

Estimates suggest around 20% of accounts would face a financial check, while 3% would undergo broader financial risk checks. The commission has been trialling financial risk checks, exploring how credit reference data could support vulnerable high-spenders.

The proposals are part of significant reforms being pushed forward in the UK through its 2023 white paper on gambling, which commits to an expanded regulatory regime, including the proposed online slot stake limit, as well as a ban on some ads, and better protection for minors.

The current wave of consultations may well raise standards for players of all types in online gambling, including slots, casino, poker, and bingo. As the debate continues, it is clear that online bingo will be considered in the broader gambling framework, and subject to the new affordability rules alongside all other forms of online gambling.