The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced new rules that impose stricter limits on first-time depositors. These measures are part of a broader effort to empower consumers, enhance operator transparency, and address the risks associated with online gambling. The changes come as part of the UK government’s ongoing reforms to modernise gambling regulations in the digital age.

New rules for first-time depositors

Under the new regulations, first-time depositors at online gambling platforms will face stricter affordability checks and deposit limits.

From 31 October 2025, the Commission has asked gambling businesses to “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 point after”.

Enhanced transparency on customer funds

Transparency regarding the protection of customer funds is another focal point of the UKGC’s recent reforms. Operators are now required to clearly inform customers about the status of their funds in the event of the operator’s insolvency. The Commission has established a ratings system to categorise the level of protection offered:

• Not Protected – No Segregation: Customer funds are part of the business’s assets and are not protected in case of insolvency.

• Not Protected – Segregation of Customer Funds: Funds are kept separate from business accounts but would form part of the assets of the business in the event of insolvency.

• Medium Protection: Funds are kept in separate accounts, with arrangements to ensure assets are distributed to customers in the event of insolvency.

• High Protection: Funds are held in a formal trust account, legally and practically separate from the company’s affairs, overseen by an independent trustee or external auditor.

Operators must disclose their specific rating to customers, ensuring that individuals are fully aware of how their funds are managed and the associated risks.

From 31 October 2025 operators whose customer funds are ‘not protected’ in the event of insolvency must actively remind consumers once every six months that their funds are not protected, the Commission stated.

Government’s high stakes gambling reforms

The UKGC’s new rules align with the UK government’s broader High-Stakes Gambling Reforms, which aim to modernise gambling regulations for the digital age. The reforms, outlined in a recent government white paper, focus on addressing the risks associated with online gambling, protecting vulnerable individuals, and ensuring that the gambling industry operates in a fair and transparent manner.

The government’s white paper states, “The online gambling landscape now is very different to the one which existed in 2005. Online gambling overtook land-based gambling by GGY – the total value of funds staked minus any winnings or prizes paid out – in September 2019 and continues to grow. In the year to December 2022, 18.6 percent of British adults had gambled online in the last four weeks, excluding National Lottery products, compared to 14.4 percent in the year to December 2018.”

Safer gambling environment

The UKGC’s new rules represent a significant step forward in the effort to create a safer and more responsible gambling environment in the UK. By imposing stricter limits on first-time depositors, enhancing transparency, and strengthening customer fund protections, the Commission is taking proactive measures to reduce the risk of gambling-related harm and ensure that consumers are treated fairly.

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