The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has opened a public consultation to gather views on how to ensure consistent and clear communication of deposit limits to online gambling customers. The consultation, which runs until April 30, 2025, ties into upcoming regulatory changes designed to give consumers greater control over their gambling spending.
The consultation is part of reforms under the Gambling Review White Paper, with new rules set to take effect on October 31, 2025. These rules will require all online gambling operators to implement deposit limits for both new and existing customers, allowing them to manage their spending through clear and defined limits.
Customers will be prompted to set a deposit limit before making their first payment, and existing customers will receive reminders every six months to review and adjust their limits if needed.
Historically, deposit limits have functioned as straightforward caps on how much money a customer could deposit within a specific timeframe. For example, a £20 ($25.8) weekly deposit limit would restrict deposits to £20 over the course of a week.
However, recent trends have seen some operators offering ‘net deposit limits,’ which factor in withdrawals and could lead to confusion. Under this system, if a customer with a £20 limit withdraws £10 ($12.9), their deposit limit could increase to £30 ($38.7) for that week.
The UKGC reported receiving numerous complaints from customers throughout 2024, expressing concerns that net deposit limits could be “potentially unfair and misleading.” Some critics argued that this practice undermines the purpose of setting a fixed deposit limit, leading the regulator to initiate this consultation for additional clarity.
A statement from the consultation noted: “In our view, financial limits termed ‘net’ deposit limits would not meet the definition of ‘deposit limits’ proposed in our initial consultation. We are choosing to consult further on this issue to ensure clarity, rather than implement the initial consultation proposals and pursue this as a compliance matter.”
The consultation includes 20 questions that assess the current Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards (RTS) framework. It invites feedback on how best to define and communicate deposit limits to avoid confusion and ensure that consumers are fully informed when managing their gambling expenditures.
The UKGC highlighted the importance of the consultation as an opportunity for stakeholders, including consumers and industry representatives, to contribute to shaping the final regulations.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/03/10/97721-uk-gambling-commission-launches-consultation-on-deposit-limits-to-boost-consumer-control
