UKGC Deposit Limit Rules Spark Irish Interest for Safer Gambling Practices

With all of the responsible gambling tools accessible to customers, why the sudden focus on deposit limits? The lines between deposit limits and loss limits have been blurred for a long time, with customers unable to take control of their gambling by setting responsible restrictions for themselves. From June next year, deposit limits in the UK will refer solely to the maximum amount a player can deposit into their account on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Current systems have found loopholes that increase these limits by deducting winnings from a deposit limit, meaning customers can add more funds despite maxing out their allocated deposit amount. The UKGC wants to give power back to the customers by allowing them to set their own boundaries.

Between 31 October 2025 and 30 June 2026, other countries, including Ireland, will be watching from the sidelines to see how operators react to the impending regulations. The expected changes include the following: 

• A clearer distinction between “deposit limit” and “loss limit”.

• A ban on deducting winnings from deposit limits. 

• Deposit limits to be madeeasily accessible through homepage access, rather than being a footnote afterthought.

• Emphasis on nudging customers to set limits and six-monthly review reminders of spending and caps.

This shift has come at an interesting time for Ireland. While this initial movement won’t impact Irish players, it is likely that these sorts of regulations will frame Irish safer gambling guidelines. Ireland has only recently established its own regulatory body, with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) introduced earlier this year. The Gambling Regulations Bill 2024 is the current instruction manual for the iGaming industry in Ireland. This legislation outlines that operators should not do the follow:

1. …provide a relevant gambling activity to that participant where participation in the relevant gambling activity means that he or she will exceed the monetary limit he or she has set under subsection (1), or

2. communicate with the participant in a manner that invites (or has the effect of

inviting) him or her to participate in a relevant gambling activity or that

advertises a relevant gambling activity to that participant.

These mirror the current UKGC framework for deposit limits, but the GRAI is yet to produce guidelines specific to deposit limits. Ireland’s approach to regulating one of the fastest growing industries has been slow and steady. Whether the regulator will introduce stricter, more imposing deposit limits for operators and customers off the back of a hopefully successful UKGC trial is currently unknown. It will be interesting to see how the GRAI navigates the tumultuous, ever-changing gambling industry to ensure player safety.