What Regulations Should You Look Out for When Playing Online Slots?

In the UK, there have been some significant recent developments in terms of online slot regulations. There have been changes to wager limits, game graphics, and displays. That’s on top of existing regulations surrounding the Know Your Customer process and responsible gambling. And there are even more upcoming changes coming into place later this year.

With so much to consider, things can get a little confusing! Keeping up to date with the constantly changing regulations can be a full-time job. So, let us guide you through the regulations to keep in mind before you spin any slots.

What are the Current Regulations?

Online slots in the UK are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)—you might have heard of a UKGC licence or seen its symbol on a slot site. They decide who gets a licence based on their high standards, so it’s a good idea to look out for their stamp of approval. But what high standards do providers have to meet?

The Know Your Customer Process

All UKGC-licensed providers have a duty to know basic details about their customers—like their birth date! That’s so they can check they’re legally allowed to gamble and verify their identity. To share this information, players have to complete a process called Know Your Customer (KYC) when registering an account.

To complete this process, you’ll need to upload a couple of documents about yourself. That includes a form of identification—like your passport. This allows providers to double-check your information, like your birthdate and name. They’ll also ask for proof of address, like a utility bill, to further verify this. If a slot site finds your pattern of spending suspicious, they may also ask for proof of funds, which means uploading bank statements or payslips to show your income.

What Should You be Wary About With KYC?

If you encounter an online slot site where you’re able to make a withdrawal before completing the KYC process, it’s not operating legally. That would certainly make it one to avoid to stay secure!

Prioritising Responsible Gambling

Sites that receive a UKGC licence also have to show they’re committed to responsible gambling. That means it should be easy to locate the responsible gambling resources and tools that a provider includes.

There’s an expansive range of responsible gambling tools, but here are some of the most popular ones you can look out for

• Questionnaires—it can be hard to recognise the signs of problem gambling in yourself, so questionnaires are a great tool to help you keep on top of your behaviour. You’ll answer questions about your gambling activity and be provided with a score indicating your level of risk.
• Deposit Limits—these cap the maximum amount you can deposit at a provider. Once you hit your limit, you can’t deposit any further money.
• Loss Limits—loss limits are similar to deposit limits but set a maximum loss instead. For example, you could set a limit of £5 a week and once you hit that, your playing will be stopped.
• Breaks—these are short periods of time when you’re prevented from playing at a provider to help you regain control of your activity.
• Reminders—it’s possible to set reminders that highlight how long you’ve been playing and double-check that you want to continue.
• Self-exclusion—a longer form of break (usually ranging from six months to five years) where you’re prevented from playing at a provider.

Do All Online Slot Sites Include Responsible Gambling Tools?

While they might not offer every tool, a UKGC-licensed slot site will offer at least a few forms of responsible gambling tools. A site that has none doesn’t have your safety at heart and is one we recommend giving a miss.

Leading online slot comparison site Online-slot.co.uk makes it easy to find reputable licensed casinos. They only work with UKGC-licensed providers that they’ve actually played at, so players know they have their best interests in mind. They’re a team of experts who have been working with the top providers for over 40 years, so they know exactly what to look for to hit the top slot.

Top Tip—Check the Licence Number

All sites that are licensed by the UKGC have a unique licence number. It should be easy to check this on their site—after all, they should be proud of their licence! Unfortunately, it’s not enough for a site to just say they have a licence, so always look for the specific number or certificate. If you’re struggling to find it, you can always contact the site’s team or check the UKGC full register of licensed providers.

Recent Changes to Regulations

Since the beginning of 2025, quite a lot has changed in the regulations of online slots in the UK. There have been a number of new introductions, including reduced stakes and changes to game design, which we’ll cover below.

Lowering the Stakes

From the 9th of April 2025, online slot stakes have been set to £5 for those over the age of 25. That means the maximum a player can stake for each spin of a slot is £5. The change aims to reduce the financial risk of slots, where the simple and quick mechanics mean players can easily spin away their budget.

There’s also a secondary limit of £2 per spin for those between the ages of 18 and 24. The second lower limit came into effect from the 21st of May 2025. So, if you see an online slot provider that allows you to spend more than this per spin, they’re not following regulations.

Changing the Game

There were other changes made around the same time as reduced limits—including those that tackle the appearance of slot games. Now, each spin has to take a minimum of 2.5 seconds to complete to prevent players from just spinning and spinning.

At the end of each spin, the result has to be clearly displayed so players can take in the outcome. That also means providers have to remove celebratory graphics for wins that are below the stake amount. These changes have already been implemented, so make sure you’re playing at slots that stick to them. 

Upcoming Developments

There are a few upcoming developments to the way that online slots are regulated in the UK. Although they haven’t yet come into effect, it’s important to familiarise yourself with them for when they do.

Mandatory Deposit Limits

If there’s one upcoming regulation change that all slot players should be aware of, it’s mandatory deposit limits. From the 31st of October, whenever you’re registering an account at a provider, you’ll have to set a deposit limit. These limits are designed to help you keep in control of your spending by preventing you from spending more than you can afford. You can set a deposit limit of £10 a week, for example.

The changes also mean that providers will have to nudge players to review their deposit limit every six months. This is to make sure they’re still happy it’s set at an affordable level. You’ll also be asked to review your transactions at a site so you can stay on top of your playing.

One to Watch—Financial Risk Assessments

The UKGC’s financial risk assessment pilot should also come to an end in the next few months. It began in September 2024 and has been looking at the effectiveness of low-level financial checks in reducing the monetary harm of gambling.

These proposed assessments use publicly available information, like credit reports, so they’re not intrusive or disruptive for players. The UKGC haven’t quite made it clear what happens when a player is deemed high risk. There have been suggestions of self-exclusion or financial limits. If the pilot is a success, we could see financial risk assessments introduced in the upcoming years—or even months!

What are the Important Online Slot Regulations to be Aware of?

It’s important that you’re aware of the current and upcoming slot regulations to make sure you’re playing within the law. This means examining the registration and responsible gambling tools at a provider to be sure they adhere to UKGC regulations.

You should also be on the lookout when it comes to the actual gameplay. All UKGC-licensed slots will have a maximum of £5 or £2 for each spin, depending on your age. There may also be a change in graphics from what you’re used to, with slower completion speeds. Finally, from the 31st of October, make sure the slot site you’re using encourages you to set a deposit limit.

If you keep all these regulations in mind when selecting an online slot provider, you can make sure you’re playing at a reputably-licensed and safe casino.