UK 10× Wagering Requirement: What the Bonus Cap Means
Since 19 January 2026, businesses licensed by the Gambling Commission must not attach a wagering requirement above 10 times the bonus funds in an incentive. The rule covers Great Britain licensees. It does not automatically apply to a website that holds only an overseas licence.
This guide explains the cap, shows how to calculate a stated requirement and separates it from other promotion terms. It is not a recommendation to claim a bonus or continue gambling.
What is a wagering requirement?
A wagering requirement is a condition that requires a customer to make wagers totalling a stated value before funds become withdrawable. In a promotion, the multiplier should identify the amount to which it applies.
For example, a £10 incentive with a 10× requirement means up to £100 of qualifying wagers:
£10 bonus funds × 10 = £100
This calculation describes the required wagering total. It does not promise that £10 or £100 will remain as winnings. Gambling outcomes can reduce the balance before the requirement is completed.
What the 10× wagering requirement UK rule says
The Gambling Commission’s final rule says licensees must not apply wagering requirements to incentives that require customers to play through bonus funds over a maximum of 10 times. It took effect on 19 January 2026.
The rule applies to all licences, including ancillary remote licences, except gaming-machine technical and software licences. For a consumer checking an online casino promotion, the practical first step is to identify the legal operator and confirm that the exact website and relevant remote activity appear on the Gambling Commission public register.
A logo, a licence number copied into a footer or a licence held by a related company is not enough by itself. Match the domain, business and licensed activities.
The cap applies to incentive funds, not your deposit
The 10× limit concerns wagering requirements applied to incentive or bonus funds. Separate Gambling Commission guidance says a Great Britain licensee must allow a player to withdraw money from the deposit balance even when a bonus is active or pending.
The withdrawal guidance also says:
- deposit and bonus balances must be displayed separately;
- promotional play restrictions and wagering requirements must not apply while the player is using the deposit balance;
- bonus winnings may still have a wagering requirement if winnings made with the player’s own funds remain withdrawable.
Do not assume an overseas-only operator follows these rules. Check the regulator that actually licenses the site and read that regulator’s current standards.
What the 10× cap does not remove
The cap limits the multiplier. It does not make every offer simple or risk-free. Promotion terms may still define:
- who is eligible;
- when the promotion starts and expires;
- whether an opt-in or code is required;
- which games or bets contribute;
- how contribution or weighting is calculated;
- any maximum stake while bonus funds are in use;
- how bonus and cash balances interact; and
- what happens to unused bonus funds when a withdrawal is requested.
The Gambling Commission’s consultation response specifically noted game contribution restrictions, sometimes called weighting. It did not change those rules at that time, but said wagering terms should be clear and transparent. Never import a contribution rate from another offer.
Free spins and no-deposit rewards still need a base amount
A free-spins promotion may credit winnings rather than a labelled cash bonus. The terms should explain the amount used as the base for any multiplier. If ten free spins produce £4 in bonus winnings and the stated requirement is 10× those winnings, the arithmetic would be £40 of qualifying wagering.
That is only an illustration. A promotion can define the credit and qualifying play differently. If the base amount is not clear, ask the operator for a written explanation before opting in.
“No deposit” also does not mean “no conditions”. It only describes how the promotion is initially obtained. Our separate no-deposit bonus terms checklist covers expiry, eligible games, evidence and other pre-claim checks in more detail.
Significant conditions must be clear upfront
The ASA and CAP guidance on free bets and bonuses says gambling promotion ads should be clear and accurate. Under CAP Code rule 8.17, significant conditions must be communicated clearly and prominently when omitting them is likely to mislead.
The guidance identifies examples such as:
- eligibility restrictions;
- deposit or wagering requirements;
- time limits; and
- minimum odds or bet types.
Full terms should be easily accessible. For an online advert, CAP says they should usually be one click from the main ad, with a clear and prominent link rather than one hidden in a footer or small print.
The rule does not ban wagering requirements
The Commission considered both a ban and a cap. It chose a maximum of 10× rather than prohibiting wagering requirements altogether. A promotion can therefore use a lower multiplier or no multiplier, provided the rest of the offer complies with the applicable rules.
The same regulatory change also bans incentives that mix more than one gambling product category—betting, casino, bingo or lottery—within one incentive. That is a separate restriction and should not be confused with the 10× calculation.
How to check a bonus calculation
Before opting in, reduce the headline to a written calculation:
- Identify the value of the incentive or bonus funds.
- Find the exact wagering multiplier.
- Confirm the base to which the multiplier applies.
- Multiply the base by the multiplier.
- Check which play counts towards that total.
- Note the expiry time and any maximum stake or contribution rule.
- Save the advert and full terms with the date and URL.
For a £20 incentive at 5×, the stated wagering total is £100. For a £20 incentive at 10×, it is £200. A requirement above £200 on that £20 incentive would exceed the 10× cap if the offer is governed by the Gambling Commission rule.
Do not keep gambling solely to complete a promotion. A lower cap reduces the permitted multiple; it does not remove the possibility of losing the bonus funds or money staked.
If the terms appear to exceed 10×
First confirm that the operator and website are licensed for Great Britain and that you are reading the current offer-specific terms. Save screenshots showing the promotion, multiplier, base amount, date and URL.
Ask the operator to explain the calculation in writing. If the answer does not resolve the issue, use its published complaint process and keep all replies. Our no-deposit bonus complaint guide explains how to organise evidence and distinguish an individual claim from a regulatory report.
For an overseas-only operator, identify the named regulator and use its complaint route. Do not assume the Great Britain cap or complaint timetable applies.
Quick checklist
- Verify the legal operator and exact domain.
- Confirm whether the Gambling Commission rule applies.
- Identify the incentive value and multiplier.
- Calculate the total from the stated base.
- Read game contribution, stake and expiry rules.
- Check that significant conditions are prominent.
- Save the advert and complete terms before opting in.
- Stop if the calculation or jurisdiction is unclear.
Sources checked
Reviewed 28 September 2026 against the Gambling Commission’s 10× wagering requirement decision and final wording, its promotion-change announcement, its withdrawal restrictions guidance, and the ASA/CAP free bets and bonuses guidance.