Minimum stake meaning: the smallest bet a game will take, or the smallest bet that counts for a promotion. On a slot it might be 10p a spin; in a prize drop or tournament the terms might say only spins of 20p or more qualify. It is the floor, where the max bet rule is the ceiling, and it is separate from the minimum deposit you need to claim an offer.
A game's minimum stake is the smallest bet its settings allow.
A promotion's minimum stake is the smallest bet that counts towards it; smaller bets are ignored.
UK stake limits (£5 and £2 per slot spin) are maximums, not minimums.
Free spins have a fixed stake set by the offer, such as 10p, which you cannot change.
Means
The smallest bet allowed or that qualifies
Opposite
Maximum bet (max bet)
UK slot maximums
£5 (25+), £2 (18–24)
Partner spin stake
10p (Coral, Ladbrokes, PlayOJO)
Partner qualifying spend
£10 on slots (Coral, Ladbrokes)
Minimum stake meaning: game floor and promotion floor
"Stake" is the money you put on a single bet or spin; our stake entry covers it in full. A minimum stake is the lowest amount allowed, and the phrase shows up in two places. In a game's settings, it is the smallest bet the game accepts, often shown on the stake selector. In promotion terms, it is the smallest bet that counts: "only real-money spins of 20p or more qualify for this prize drop".
The two can differ. A slot may accept 10p spins while a tournament on that same slot ignores anything below 20p. Spins below the promotion's floor still cost money; they simply earn nothing towards the promotion. Other entries in our bonus glossary explain related limits.
Minimum stake vs max bet vs minimum deposit
Three limits are easy to confuse because they all involve a pound figure near the top of the terms.
Minimum stake worked example: what a qualifying floor costs
Suppose a weekly leaderboard counts only spins of at least 25p and awards points per spin. Playing 400 qualifying spins means £100 of stakes. On a slot with 96% RTP the long-run average loss on £100 is about £4, and that is the price of entry whatever the prize table promises.
Now compare a welcome offer's qualifying bet. Coral and Ladbrokes each ask new customers to bet or spend £10 or more on slots. At 96% RTP, £10 of slot play costs about 40p on average, after which Coral releases 100 spins at 10p (£10 of spins) and Ladbrokes releases 50 spins a day for up to 10 days (up to £50 of spins). The expected cost of meeting that minimum is small next to the spins' face value, but it is still real money at risk, and a short session can lose all £10.
Minimum stake and free spins
Free spins have a fixed stake chosen by the casino, sometimes called the spin value or coin value. You cannot raise or lower it. All three of our spin offers use 10p spins, so 100 spins are worth £10 of play and 80 spins £8. Spins are credited only on the selected games the offer lists, at the stake the offer sets, and any other game you open uses your own cash.
A spin's value is not the same as what it returns. At 96% RTP, 100 spins at 10p return about £9.60 on average, with wide swings either way. Our free spins value page shows the sums for other spin counts.
UK stake rules: maximums, not minimums
Great Britain sets maximum stakes on online slots, not minimums: £5 per game cycle for players aged 25 and over from 9 April 2025, and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds from 21 May 2025. The Commission's online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) explains how a game cycle is measured, and the government's announcement of the £2 limit for under-25s (opens in a new tab) gives the background. A promotion can set any minimum it likes within those ceilings.
Each partner offer sets its own floor. Coral (18+, new players) asks for a deposit and a bet of £10 or more on slots, then gives 100 free spins at 10p on selected games, accepted within 48 hours and valid for 7 days, with no wagering on winnings; prepaid cards, PayPal, Skrill and some other methods do not qualify. Ladbrokes (18+, new customers) asks for £10+ of slots play, then gives 50 spins a day for 10 days at 10p, up to 500, claimed before 23:59 each day, with no wagering.
PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland) has no qualifying bet: a first deposit of at least £10 brings 80 spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza, with winnings paid in cash. Terms apply to all three.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does minimum stake mean in a casino?
It means the smallest bet allowed on a game, or the smallest bet that counts for a promotion. A slot might accept spins from 10p, while a prize drop on that slot might only count spins of 20p or more. Bets below a promotion's minimum are still real bets and still cost money; they just earn nothing towards the prize or offer. See our stake entry for how stakes are defined.
Is there a legal minimum stake on UK slots?
No. UK rules set maximum stakes on online slots, not minimums: £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for players aged 18 to 24. Each game and each casino chooses its own minimum, and promotions can add a higher qualifying floor within those limits. Bonus max-bet rules sit on top of the legal ceilings. Our page on online slot stake limits explains the dates and the rules behind them.
What is the difference between minimum stake and minimum deposit?
Minimum stake is about the size of a bet; minimum deposit is about the size of a payment into your account. For example, PlayOJO's welcome spins need a first deposit of at least £10, while Coral's need a deposit and then £10 or more bet on slots. You can meet a minimum deposit and still not qualify if the bet requirement is missed. Our minimum deposit for a bonus page compares each partner.
Can I change the stake on free spins?
No. The casino fixes the stake for each free spin, and it is stated in the offer, such as 10p per spin at Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO. That fixed stake sets the spins' total value: 100 spins at 10p is £10 of play. You choose your own stake only when playing with cash or bonus money. Our guide to how free spins work explains how spins are credited and played.
Why do tournaments have a minimum stake?
A minimum stake stops very small bets from counting, which keeps the leaderboard tied to the level of play the operator wants to reward. It also means taking part has a real cost. If a tournament counts only spins of 25p or more, 400 spins is £100 of stakes, which at 96% RTP costs about £4 on average. Decide your budget first. Our leaderboard entry explains how points and prizes are usually worked out.
Do bets below the minimum stake count towards wagering?
That depends on the terms. A minimum stake rule in a prize drop or tournament affects only that promotion, not a bonus's wagering. Wagering is governed by the bonus's own contribution rules and max-bet limit. Some bonus terms do set a minimum bet for wagering, so read the full terms. Our stake contribution entry explains how bets are credited towards a wagering requirement.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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