What the rules require
The Gambling Commission's remote gambling and software technical standards set what a licensed online business's gambling system must do. Standard 12 covers financial limits. It applies to all gambling except subscription lotteries [1].
Its stated aim is to give every customer facilities to apply financial limits to their account, so they can set and keep a gambling budget that suits their own circumstances [1]. The system must give you easy-to-reach facilities to set your own limits at any time from registration [1].
You must be prompted to set a limit during registration or when you make your first deposit or payment. The limit must be put in place as soon as practicable after you ask, and you must be told when it will come into force [1].
How a deposit limit works
At a minimum, the system must offer gross deposit limits, where the amount you pay into your account is capped over a set period. Only a limit that meets this description can be called a deposit limit, and a limit that meets it must be described to you as one [1].
- You type in the amount. You must be given a box to enter a limit of your own choice [1].
- It applies to the account. As a minimum, limits must be applied at account level [1].
- The periods on offer must include 24 hours, 7 days and 1 month [1].
- Deposits stop when you reach it. The system must stop you depositing more until the period restarts or you act to raise the limit, which is subject to the 24-hour cooling-off period described below [1].
Where a business offers more than one kind of limit, it must offer the gross deposit limit with at least equal prominence to the others [1]. The standard lets a business also offer stake limits, loss limits and net deposit limits to give you more choice, but it does not require them [1].
Lowering and raising a limit
| Change | What must happen |
|---|---|
| Lower or reduce a limit | It must be put in place immediately, unless a system or technical failure prevents it. The business should then tell you when the reduction will take effect. |
| Raise a limit | Only at your request, only after a cooling-off period of at least 24 hours, and only once you have taken a positive step at the end of that period to confirm. |
Source: Gambling Commission, Remote gambling and software technical standards, RTS 12D and its implementation guidance.
The system must also prompt you to review your own account and transaction information at least every six months, for accounts with activity in the last 12 months, and must let you set reminders more often [1].
Where the tools must be
- On the homepage. Limit facilities must be reachable by a direct link there, clearly visible and easy to use [1].
- On deposit pages. They must be visible and accessible on the deposit pages or screens, or through a link from them [1].
- Few clicks. The system must keep to a minimum the clicks or pages you need to reach them [1].
Setting a limit must be the default choice, and the system must need an action from you to decline one. It must have your confirmation that you do not want a limit before you move on to deposit or gamble. Existing customers with no limit set must be prompted to review that at least once a year [1].
Seeing your balance, history and net deposits
Standard 1 covers account information. Where you hold a balance, the pages used for gambling and for moving money must show your current balance whenever you are logged in. Where that is not practical on a gambling screen, an easily accessible link to it must be provided [2].
- History. You must have easy access to at least three months of account and gambling history without contacting the business, and at least 12 months must be available on request [2].
- What it should include. The standard's guidance says the history should include, as appropriate, deposits, withdrawals and bonus information, plus bets placed, their results and winnings paid [2].
- Your own period. The guidance also says the history should let you use your own time period or select from a range, with a summary total for the period you select [2].
- Net deposits. You must be able to see your net deposits [2]. The standard's guidance describes this as all deposits minus all withdrawals over the life of the account [2].
What these tools do not do
- They set a budget, not a block. A limit caps deposits on your account with that business. To be blocked from every licensed online betting site, see the self-exclusion service described on our safer gambling page.
- They are conditions on licensed businesses. The Commission says remote operating licence holders are required to comply with its technical standards [3]. Before you open an account, check the business's licence. Some brands have their own page with their register entry, such as Betfred or Coral.
If gambling is a problem
Safer gambling and help lists the National Gambling Helpline and other support. A limit is a tool, not a treatment, and if gambling is causing harm you can talk to someone today.
Sources
The numbers in the text point to these pages. Each was opened on the date shown.
- Gambling Commission, Remote gambling and software technical standards: RTS 12, Financial limits (page last updated 30 September 2026). Read 16 October 2026.
- Gambling Commission, Remote gambling and software technical standards: RTS 1, Customer account information (page last updated 7 May 2024). Read 16 October 2026.
- Gambling Commission, Remote gambling and software technical standards (RTS). Read 16 October 2026.
About this guide
Published by Avenmark Media. A separate pass re-opened every source above and checked each claim against it, on . A second, independent check compared a sample of the claims with the same sources. How we research and correct our pages.
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