Following consultation in late 2023, the Gambling Commission has announced changes aimed at increasing consumer control over deposit limits and greater transparency of customer funds protection by operators.  It will also make a change to its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) in anticipation of the government's upcoming statutory levy.

New customer-led tools

New rules aim to 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. From 31 October 2025, all gambling businesses must prompt their customers to set a financial limit before they make their first deposit and make it easy to review and alter this limit at any time.

The Commission says that some operators already do this.  Consequently, the rules will take those examples of good practice and expand them across the industry so that customers can expect consistent standards.

Gambling businesses will also be required to issue reminders every six months to consumers to review their account and transaction information – this is to help consumers consider if they want to change existing, or set new, deposit limits.

The Commission's research has revealed that some operators have made changes regarding how deposit limits are offered, which could cause confusion for consumers. Therefore, it is issuing a short supplementary consultation on proposals to improve consistency and transparency for consumers on how financial limits work.

Transparency of protection of customer funds

Operators who hold customer funds must already set out in their terms and conditions if they are protected in the event of insolvency, the level of such protection and the method by which this is achieved. They must also make this information available at the point at which a customer first deposits money.

The level of protection must be described as either 'not protected – no segregation', 'not protected – segregation of customer funds', 'medium protection' or 'high protection'.

From 31 October 2025, operators whose customer funds are 'not protected' in the event of insolvency must actively remind consumers about this every six months.

There is no legal duty on gambling operators to protect customers' funds in the event of insolvency, but many do so voluntarily. The changes are aimed at helping consumers understand which operators protect their funds and which do not.  This is information which will support them in making choices about who they gamble with.

Changes connected with the new statutory levy

The Commission's LCCP currently requires operators to make annual financial contributions to a list of research, prevention and treatment organisations.

This requirement will be removed before the introduction of the government's statutory levy (expected to come into force on 6 April 2025) as it will become obsolete. The Commission will announce the date of implementation as soon as the parliamentary process is complete.  We will report on this once we know the date.