UK players to benefit from new 10x wagering cap on casino bonuses. We look at several scenarios for free spins and deposit match deals. (Image by Jeivani100x859481 on Vecteezy)
According to new plans outlined by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), wagering requirements for online casino bonus deals are going to be capped at 10x.
Although the focus of the newly released announcement directly available on the UKGC website does not focus entirely on the wagering requirements cap, of course, as a player and an online casino review expert, it was the first point I read in the list that triggered me to write this news piece.
If you have been following UK casino news for any length of time, then you are already likely aware of the UK Gambling White Paper rules. Max bet limits on slot machines and affordability checks have undoubtedly been the most debated topics.
Other rules include a 1% levy on GGR for all online gambling operators, while others have caused outrage and upset players and operators.
At the same time, we have to take the good with the bad, and clearing the issue with confusing bonuses and high wagering requirements is definitely something we can take as a positive.
Even under the high scrutiny British iGaming and platforms operate under, somehow operators or casino marketing teams still manage to overcomplicate bonus deals or simply leave out information.
If you would like to skip directly to the UKGC’s version, then the link to their news report is here: Gambling promotions to be safer and simpler.
Alternatively, stay with me for a more in-depth overview below where I give you a few scenarios on how the new 10x wagering requirement cap may affect your gameplay.
10x Bonus Wagering Rule
Capping wagering requirements to 10x is great news. It means players have a higher chance of converting bonus money earned from deposit match deals or free spin bonuses. However, I already see a few caveats, or let’s say cracks in the plan.
I am not complaining. A 10x wagering cap is excellent news. I just want to walk you through some scenarios.
The Exact Rules Touted by the UKGC Are Not Clear
When the UKGC says 10x, does this mean 10x the bonus only or 10x the deposit + bonus? Either way, 10x is good news. I’ve seen some UK casinos offering 40x deposit + bonus wagering, which, if you read our wagering requirements guide, is not ideal.
I guess it is simply a game of wait and see what happens. I suspect most casinos will go for a 10x deposit + bonus.
As for sports betting, I don’t see the 10x wagering requirement cap affecting many bonus deals. Most British sports betting sites already offer bonus turnovers lower than 10x.
Will Casinos Offer Lower Bonuses?
I’ll take a wild guess and say the value of bonus deals will decrease. I’ve come up with a few possible scenarios whereby casinos will try to cushion the 10x wagering requirement cap.
- Fewer Free Spins: When you deposit to claim a free spins bonus, casinos will likely offer fewer spins to reduce the risk of you converting the bonus.
- Lower Free Spin Bet Values: Although most online casinos only offer 10p per spin when you claim a free spins bonus, some offer 20p or 40p. I would guess that 10p per spin will become the new norm.
With all this being said, there are still British casino online that giveaway free spins with 0x wagering.
Lower Deposit Match Bonuses
As for offering lower deposit match deals, for example, 50% instead of 100% may not happen. I would venture as far as to say, a 50% deposit match is easier to convert into real money than a 100% deposit match.
Here is a prime example:
- 50% Deposit Match (Bonus Only Wagering): You deposit £10, you receive £5, and with a 10x wagering requirement, you only need to turn over the bonus with £50 worth of bets.
- 50% Deposit Match (Bonus + Deposit Wagering): You deposit £10, you receive £5, and with a 10x wagering requirement, you need to turn over the bonus with £10 worth of bets.
Let’s take a deeper look into this by taking the example of the 50% deposit match mentioned in this section and investigating higher deposit match percentages.
They May Offer Higher Deposit Match Percentages
Now, a 100% deposit match bonus is pretty good. However, a 200% deposit match will mean you have more bonus to play through. Let me give you an example.
- 100% Deposit Match: You earn a 100% match for a £10 deposit, giving you a £10 bonus balance. You only need to play through £100 to convert the bonus into real money. If the casino requires a deposit + bonus, then to convert the bonus into real money, you need to place £200 worth of bonus bets.
- 200% Deposit Match: This scenario is literally the one above but doubles the numbers. A £10 deposit gives you a £20 bonus balance with a 10x ‘bonus only’ wagering requirement, which means playing through £200 to convert the £20 into real money. If there is a bonus + deposit stipulation, you would need to make £400 worth of bets to convert the bonus balance into real money.
As you can see, there are plenty of variables to consider here, and I am sure iGaming operators will figure out a way around the 10x cap. Either way, after figuring out the mathematics behind the 10x cap, I feel like any of the above bonus scenarios align with the comments made by the UKGC, which were:
“A £10 bonus with a 50 times wagering requirement requires the consumer to play through £500 before the winnings can be withdrawn. Such high wagering requirements could confuse consumers and lead them to gamble for longer, and faster, than they are used to”.
Mixed Product Promotion Ban
I’m not overly keen on this rule. I like the fact that I can bet on several casino games or use bonus money for sports betting. It’s my freedom choice to do so. Also, does this mean that game weights will change? For example, some casinos’ bonus rules say 100% of your bonus bets contribute towards slots and 20% towards live dealer games. Will the mixed product promotion ban put an end to this?
The rules have not been clearly defined in the new UKGC announcement, but at least we know change is coming, thanks to the authority’s transparency and constant updates. For the time being we’ll wait to see the changes for ourselves, and when we do see them, we’ll update our British online casinos information page.
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