How affordability checks affect bonuses

How affordability checks affect bonuses: the short answer

If you’re claiming a typical UK welcome offer, an ‘affordability check’ is unlikely to touch it. The phrase usually refers to credit-reference-based assessments of how much someone can afford to lose, and those are not in force. The Gambling Commission has said that ‘affordability check’ is an inaccurate description and that it has no plans for affordability checks; what it piloted are called financial risk assessments, and as of October 2026 there’s no decision to bring them in.

Three things that are live can still affect a bonus: the financial vulnerability check at £150 of net deposits in 30 days, the duty to stop bonuses for customers showing strong signs of harm, and anti-money-laundering questions about where your money comes from. This guide takes each in turn, with worked examples using real partner offers, and sits within our wider guides hub.

This page explains rules and how they interact with offers. All offers mentioned are 18+ and terms apply.

Which financial checks are live in 2026

The Commission’s post-pilot update on financial risk assessments (opens in a new tab), published in April 2026, reported that 97% of assessed customers in the pilot experienced no friction and that no consumer had action taken against them on the basis of an assessment. The findings are with the Commission’s Board. Until a decision is announced, treat any claim that casinos run credit-based affordability checks on every player as out of date or wrong.

The £150 financial vulnerability check and your bonus

Under LCCP 3.4.4 (opens in a new tab), when your deposits minus withdrawals pass £150 in any rolling 30-day period, the casino runs a check of public records for signs of financial vulnerability such as bankruptcy, a county court judgment, an individual voluntary arrangement or a debt relief order. It doesn’t need to repeat the check if one was done in the previous 12 months. The threshold started at £500 on 30 August 2024 and fell to £150 on 28 February 2025.

Net deposits are what count, so withdrawals reduce the total. The table shows how common bonus routes compare with the threshold, assuming no other deposits in the 30 days and no withdrawals.

Passing the threshold doesn’t block the bonus. It triggers a records check that most people never notice. If the check finds signs of financial vulnerability, the casino has to consider whether to act, which could include limiting promotions. Our net deposit glossary entry explains the calculation, and the £200 deposit bonus page covers larger deposits.

Signs of harm: when a casino must stop your bonuses

The rule most likely to stop a bonus isn’t about your bank balance at all. The remote customer interaction code (LCCP 3.4.3) (opens in a new tab) requires casinos to spot, act on and evaluate signs of harm from the moment an account opens. Since 12 February 2023, where there are strong indicators of harm, marketing and new bonus take-up must stop.

Indicators the code lists include spend, spending patterns, time spent, behaviour, customer-led contact, use of safer gambling tools and account indicators. In practice, that could mean rapid repeat deposits, very long sessions, reversing withdrawals or telling support you’re struggling. Automated actions need a manual review, and customers can contest automated decisions. Our page on bonuses and harm indicators and the customer interaction rules explain the duties in full.

Source-of-funds requests and bonus withdrawals

Questions about your finances can also come from anti-money-laundering duties, which apply whether or not you use bonuses. The Commission’s consumer page on why gambling businesses want to know about your finances (opens in a new tab) gives two reasons: checking that your money comes from a legitimate source, and spotting signs you may be gambling money you don’t have. It lists bank statements, information about irregular income such as a pending house sale, and limits set against income using open-source data and ONS figures.

Timing matters for anyone waiting on bonus winnings. Commission guidance says a withdrawal request must not trigger requests for information that could reasonably have been asked for earlier, unless another legal duty requires it at that point. Our source of funds glossary entry and answer on what a source of funds check is explain more.

What to do if you’re asked for documents

1. Read the request carefully and note exactly which documents are wanted and why.
2. Upload documents through the casino’s secure upload tool rather than email, if it has one.
3. Make sure names, addresses and dates match your account details.
4. Keep a note of what you sent and when.
5. If the request seems excessive or delayed, use the casino’s complaints process, then an approved dispute service.

Timeline of financial check rules affecting bonuses

The 2023 white paper suggested checks at £125 of net loss in a month or £500 in a year, with enhanced checks at higher levels. Those numbers were proposals only and never came into force, though they still circulate online. Our gambling white paper page and bonus rules timeline give the fuller history, and the Commission’s financial risk checks update (opens in a new tab) summarises its position.

Affordability check myths and facts

Any page suggesting ways to avoid checks, such as spreading deposits across sites or using someone else’s account, is pointing towards breaking the terms and losing winnings. Our page on multi-accounting explains why.

Limits you can set yourself

The financial control that matters most is the one you choose. Since 31 October 2025, UK casinos must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit, with setting a limit as the default. Lowering a limit takes effect straight away. A deposit limit set at, say, £20 a week keeps you clear of the £150 threshold and makes bonus decisions simpler, because you’ll only take offers that fit the budget. Our guide to setting deposit limits and the financial limit prompt rule explain how it works.

If money worries are part of the picture, a bonus isn’t the answer. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free and open 24/7, run by GamCare (opens in a new tab), and GAMSTOP lets you block all UK-licensed gambling sites at once. Our guide to bonuses and gambling harm covers the warning signs.

Low-deposit partner offers and financial checks

The partner offers that fit most comfortably below the £150 threshold are those needing a £10 deposit. That isn’t a reason to choose them on its own, but it means the offer itself won’t trigger a financial vulnerability check. All are 18+ and terms apply.

• Coral Casino: deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 or more on slots for 100 free spins at 10p, worth £10, on selected games. Accept within 48 hours; valid 7 days; no wagering on winnings. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don’t qualify.
• Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and spend £10 or more on slots for 50 free spins a day over 10 days, up to 500 spins at 10p (up to £50 of spins). Claim before 23:59 each day; spins last 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers don’t qualify.
• PlayOJO: first deposit of £10 or more gets 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p (£8 of spins), with winnings paid in cash and no wagering. New UK customers, excluding Northern Ireland.

Coral and Ladbrokes are run by the same operator, LC International Limited, so check the terms before opening new accounts with both. Our £10 deposit bonus page compares all five partners at that level.

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.