Esports bettors in the UK will be prompted to set deposit limits when opening betting accounts after the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) introduced new rules for gambling companies.

As part of the new rules set by the Commission, gambling companies will be required to:

• Prompt their customers to set a financial limit before they make their first deposit and make it easy for them to review and alter their limit
• Remind consumers every six months to review their account and transaction information to help customers maintain control of their gambling spend
• Offer financial limits using free text at an account level to help customers set meaningful limits
• Provide financial limit setting facilities via a link on the homepage and deposit pages, which are clearly visible and accessible, with the number of clicks to reach these facilities minimized
• Action all customer requests to decrease a financial limit immediately.

These changes will come into force at the end of the month, while the Commission stated, “From 30 June 2026, all online operators must provide customers with the opportunity to set a ‘deposit limit’ which is based solely on the amount a customer pays into their account over a set duration.”

Helen Rhodes, Commission Director of Major Policy Projects, said: “Our work will help empower consumers to have greater awareness and control over their gambling. These further changes will also bring consistency and clarity for those consumers choosing to set deposit limits, while still supporting gambling businesses to offer customer choice for different forms of limits.”

Deposit Limits Gaining Popularity In Europe

The latest rules in the UK will continue to allow gamblers to set their own limits, and thus do not place any restrictions on the amount they can gamble. However, other countries in Europe are increasingly introducing strict limits to curb player losses.

In Germany, deposits at online casinos are limited to €1,000 per player across all platforms, and there is also a €1 stake limit on online slots.

Similarly, the UK introduced a limit on slots of £5 for over-25s and £2 for 18– to 24-year-olds earlier this year. Last year, the Netherlands introduced a deposit limit of €700 ($796.24) a month, with this amount dropped to €300 for 18-25 year olds.

In Norway, the state-owned gambling operator Norsk Tipping also sets mandatory monthly deposit limits of 20,000 NOK ($2000).

US States Encourage Users To Set Limits

In the US, many states where online casinos are legal also have similar rules that mean platforms must give users the opportunity to set limits. New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan all dictate that companies allow users ot set limits and self-exclude. Like the UK, there is no restriction on what limit a user can set.

To comply with responsible gambling regulations, operators have also introduced a range of tools for bettors, including setting limits.

Underdog partnered with Sportradar last month to utilize the company’s AI tools, which monitor players’ gambling behavior. If users show signs of problem gambling, it recommends care services for addiction treatment.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in New York recently introduced a bill that will prohibit companies from limiting customers.

Assemblyman Alex Bores introduced the Fair Play Act to prevent sportsbooks from limiting or banning winning customers. Exceptions will be made where bettors are limited “for suspicious wagering activity and indications of a gambling disorder.”