Free spins & no-deposit bonuses: the terms that decide what you keep

What regulators in Great Britain & New Jersey say about the conditions attached to free spins & bonus money, including the British rule changes of 19 January 2026.

What free spins & no-deposit bonuses are

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which licenses gambling businesses serving British consumers, says many betting sites & apps offer free incentives. These “can include things like free spins or bonus money when you open a new account”, according to its guide to free offers & bonuses.

A free spin is a turn on a casino game that the player does not pay for. In this guide, a no-deposit bonus means spins or bonus money given without the player first paying in money of their own. The UKGC advises checking the terms before accepting any offer.

The offers are common. In a UKGC research report on promotional offers, 9 in 10 survey respondents had received an offer in the previous 4 weeks, & 76 percent of those who received one went on to use it.

The report found “Free spins and bets were most frequently received and used”, with free spins 10 times more likely to be used than any other type of offer.

Why free comes with conditions

Advice given by the CAP Executive about non-broadcast advertising, which covers “free spins on casino games”, says: “Marketers should not describe an offer as “free” if the customer must risk their own money to qualify.”

The same advice says terms like “risk-free” should be avoided “unless the customer genuinely cannot lose their own funds”. It notes that the advice is not legal advice & does not bind the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Under CAP Code rule 8.17, ads for promotions must clearly show significant conditions where leaving them out is likely to mislead. The CAP Executive’s examples include eligibility restrictions such as new customers only, age or location, & deposit or wagering requirements.

How players see these offers matters too. The UKGC research found respondents perceived free spins & bets “to be without risk”, which “encouraged a “play now, think later” mindset”. It also found that “Requirements to stake one’s own money is the key trigger to recognising higher risk”.

Wagering requirements in brief

A wagering requirement is a condition that bonus funds or winnings from them must be re-staked a set number of times before the player can withdraw. On 26 March 2025, the UKGC announced new rules on promotions under the heading “Bonus wagering requirements limited to ten”.

The UKGC says all the changes come into force on 19 January 2026, a date moved from the 19 December 2025 first announced.

Its example: “a £10 bonus with a 50 times wagering requirement requires the consumer to play through £500 before the winnings can be withdrawn.” On the same arithmetic, a ten times requirement on a £10 bonus would mean £100 of play.

The UKGC says high requirements “could confuse consumers and lead them to gamble for longer, and faster, than they are used to”. Its research found consumers may take up offers despite knowing the wagering requirements are high & that they are unlikely to meet them.

Eligible games & bet limits

Bonuses are often tied to particular games. The UKGC research found that rewards from offers “may only be redeemable on specific gambling products”, giving the example of a sports bettor using a free spin on a casino game.

In guidance for operators posted on 12 December 2025, the UKGC says specific games may be excluded from a product category, such as instant win games or roulette. It says “these exclusions must be clearly stated and easily accessible within the incentive’s terms and conditions”.

The UKGC’s consumer guide says companies should make it clear whether you are playing with your own money or bonus funds. They should also be clear about restrictions on how bonus funds can be played, “such as restrictions on the size of bets”.

In the United States, New Jersey’s rule on internet & mobile gaming promotions (N.J.A.C. 13:69O-1.12) requires each promotion’s terms to list, at a minimum, “Eligible games” & “Wagering requirements and limitations by type of game”. The terms must also state the order in which funds are used for wagers.

Expiry dates & time limits

The CAP Executive’s advice lists “Time limits for claiming or using the offer” among the significant conditions gambling ads are likely to need to show.

In 2024 the ASA investigated a free £10 bet where customers had to reply to a text message by a certain time, a condition the ad did not state. The ASA considered the omission was likely to mislead (GB Sports Advisors Ltd t/a Geoff Banks Online, 17 July 2024).

New Jersey’s rule requires promotion terms to include “Date and time limitations”.

Time limits can affect how people play. The UKGC research found that “The urgency to meet wagering requirements within an allotted time can drive longer gambling sessions”.

Caps on winnings & withdrawals

New Jersey’s rule requires terms to state “Any restrictions on the withdrawal of funds”. It also says: “Once a patron has met the terms of a promotion, the licensee shall not cap or limit winnings earned while participating in the promotion.”

The same rule requires a clear way to cancel a promotion that uses restricted credits. On cancellation, the player must be told how much unrestricted money will be returned & what restricted funds will be removed.

In Great Britain, the UKGC says companies should let you walk away from play at any time. They should “let you keep what is left of your deposit and any winnings you’ve earned from play with your deposit”.

The UKGC adds that companies should not “change the details of a free bet once you’ve accepted the deal and started playing”.

ID checks before you withdraw

According to the UKGC’s guide to age & ID verification, “All online gambling businesses must ask you to prove your age and identity before you gamble.”

The checks are to confirm you are old enough, to confirm who you are & to check whether you have self-excluded, meaning asked to be blocked from gambling. Documents a business can request include passports, driving licences & household bills.

The UKGC says a business “can’t ask you to prove your age and identity as a condition of withdrawing your money” if it could have asked earlier, though some legal obligations may only allow it to ask at that point. A business that delays a withdrawal over insufficient ID may breach Licence Condition 17 & face regulatory action.

Britain’s ban on mixed offers

The UKGC’s March 2025 announcement also said gambling businesses will be banned from offering offers “involving consumers having to carry out two or more types of gambling, such as betting and playing slots”, with the changes coming into force on 19 January 2026. It says evidence shows consumers are more at risk of harm when they gamble on multiple products rather than one.

From 19 January 2026, licensees “must not include more than one type of gambling product (betting, casino, bingo and lottery) within an incentive”, under Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1(3b) of the UKGC’s Licence Conditions & Codes of Practice (LCCP), the rulebook for licensed operators.

The UKGC’s operator guidance marks “Bet £5 to get 20 free spins” as non-compliant, explaining: “This type of offer clearly mixes product types.” It marks “Bet £5 and get £10 free bet” & “Spend £5 on casino products and get 20 free spins” as compliant.

Bonus money the customer can use on any product category without restriction is permitted, the UKGC says, because the choice is the customer’s.

Bonuses, limits & where to get help

The UKGC research found that “Offers enable consumers to continue gambling beyond their usual stopping point”, which can raise overall monthly gambling.

It also found that “Offers seem to complicate a consumer’s ability to mentally account for losses”, with some players losing track of their own money versus bonus balance.

The UKGC says on its page about how gambling companies keep you safe online that online sites have built-in facilities to set limits on the time & money spent. Players can also ask an operator to self-exclude them for a period.

An online multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, GAMSTOP, has been available since April 2018, according to the UKGC. It also points to the National Gambling Helpline for confidential advice in England, Scotland & Wales.

Questions

Can an ad call free spins “free” if I have to deposit first?

Advice from the CAP Executive, which does not bind the ASA, says marketers should not describe an offer as “free” if the customer must risk their own money to qualify. It also says “risk-free” should be avoided unless the customer genuinely cannot lose their own funds.

What is the maximum wagering requirement in Great Britain?

The UKGC says bonus wagering requirements are limited to ten, under rules in force from 19 January 2026. Its example of a £10 bonus at 50 times required £500 of play.

Can a British site offer free spins for placing a sports bet?

Not from 19 January 2026. The UKGC’s operator guidance marks “Bet £5 to get 20 free spins” as non-compliant because it mixes betting & casino products.

Can a site ask for ID only when I try to withdraw?

The UKGC says a business can’t make proof of age & identity a condition of withdrawing if it could have asked earlier. It notes some legal obligations may mean a business can only ask at that time.

Can a New Jersey operator cap winnings from a promotion?

New Jersey’s rule says that once a patron has met a promotion’s terms, the licensee shall not cap or limit winnings earned while participating in it.

Sources

• gamblingcommission.gov.uk
• gamblingcommission.gov.uk
• gamblingcommission.gov.uk
• asa.org.uk
• gamblingcommission.gov.uk
• law.cornell.edu
• gamblingcommission.gov.uk
• gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Sources checked 31 October 2026. Information only. 18+.