UK promotion terms accessibility

What UK promotion terms accessibility means

“Accessible” in gambling regulation is mostly about reach and readability: can you find the terms easily, at the moment you need them, and can you understand them once you do? Several rules use the idea. The rewritten rewards and bonuses code says terms for any incentive must be clear, transparent, fair and readily accessible. Licence condition 7.1.1 says terms must be transparent and made available in an easily accessible way. And code 5.1.9 sets out where the key conditions must appear and how many clicks away the rest can be.

None of this is new for 2026, but the January rewrite of the bonus code put the “readily accessible” duty in its own clause. The idea underneath is simple: a bonus is only fair if you can see what it costs before you commit. Our bonus terms must be clear page covers the clarity side; this page focuses on placement and access.

Where each part of a bonus’s terms must appear

The Commission’s transparency guidance (opens in a new tab) and LCCP 5.1.9 (opens in a new tab) together give a fairly precise map.

The guidance also says that putting information only in the website’s general terms is not enough, and that extra terms must not be hidden in a separate tab or window. A promotion page that shows “100 free spins” in large type and leaves the £10 stake for a pop-up you have to hunt for would fall short. The glossary entry on significant terms lists the conditions that usually count.

The one-click rule, tested on a real offer

A practical way to judge accessibility is to count the steps between seeing an offer and reading its full terms. Here is how that path should look for Ladbrokes’ current casino welcome offer, which pays 50 free spins a day for 10 days after a £10 slots stake.

1. The advert or offer box states the core: deposit and spend £10 on slots, 50 spins a day for 10 days, 10p spins, 18+, terms apply.
2. The landing page repeats the significant conditions beside the headline, including the daily 23:59 claim deadline, the 7-day validity and the payment exclusions.
3. One click from that page opens the full terms.
4. After you join, the bonus or promotions area links straight to the same terms for as long as the offer runs.

If you need to search the help centre, scroll a general terms page or open a second document to find a condition that changes the offer’s value, that is a sign the terms are not as accessible as the rules expect. Our guide on how to read a significant terms box shows what a good one contains.

Plain language: the other half of accessibility

Finding the terms is only useful if you can understand them. The Commission’s guidance says consumers must be able to understand all the terms and that they must not be unnecessarily complex. Underneath that sits the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (opens in a new tab), which sets three tests that matter for bonus terms.

Section 62 adds that an unfair term is not binding on the consumer. Our page on unfair terms under the Consumer Rights Act explains the fairness test in more depth.

Terms that stay available for the life of the offer

Code 5.1.9 says each incentive’s terms must be available for the full duration of the promotion. That matters most for longer or staggered offers. Coral’s current offer runs from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; its terms should be reachable throughout. Ladbrokes’ offer pays spins over 10 days and each batch lasts 7 days, so a player could still be using spins more than two weeks after joining.

Changes are covered too. Licence condition 7.1.1 says customers must be told about material changes to terms before they take effect, and the Commission’s guidance on the right to vary a promotion says an operator shouldn’t change or withdraw a promotion for a customer who has opted in unless it is needed to prevent fraud or similar unlawful behaviour. Our question page can bonus terms change after I opt in works through what that means for you, and the glossary note on bonus terms version explains why dated terms help.

Promotion terms accessibility in adverts

Advertising has its own rulebook. CAP Code rule 8.17 says significant conditions must be stated clearly and prominently where leaving them out is likely to mislead, and CAP guidance on promotional terms and significant conditions (opens in a new tab) says full terms for online ads should be one click away through clear links, not hidden in footers or small print.

The ASA has applied this to gambling more than once. In July 2024 it ruled that an excluded payment method placed in small print among William Hill’s full terms wasn’t prominent enough. Payment exclusions are a good test of any operator: Coral and Ladbrokes both exclude PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe and prepaid cards from their welcome offers, so those exclusions belong right next to the offer, not only in the full terms. See significant conditions in ads for the advertising rules in full.

Making bonus terms easier to use in practice

Accessibility also works in your favour if you use the tools available. A few habits help, especially on a phone screen where long terms are harder to read.

• Read the terms on a larger screen if you can, or zoom in; legibility is part of the transparency test.
• Save or screenshot the terms on the day you opt in, with the date visible. See how to keep records of bonuses.
• Use your device’s screen reader or text-size settings if small print is hard to read; if terms can’t be read that way, tell the operator.
• Ask support to explain any term you don’t understand, and keep the reply.
• Check the bonus balance display, which must keep your own money and bonus funds separate.

What the accessibility rules don’t guarantee

Easy-to-find terms are not the same as generous terms. A clearly displayed 10x wagering requirement is still a cost: a £100 bonus means £1,000 of stakes, which costs about £40 on average on 96% RTP slots. A visible £1,000 cap on bonus winnings still limits what you can take home. The rules make the price of a bonus visible; they don’t lower it, and they don’t change the house edge.

The rules also don’t cover sites outside the UK system. A casino without a Gambling Commission licence isn’t bound by these codes, which is one reason our guide on offshore casino bonus risks advises against them.

How to check a promotion’s terms are accessible

1. Find the significant conditions next to the headline: deposit or stake, spin value or bonus amount, wagering, expiry and payment exclusions.
2. Click once from the offer; you should reach the full terms.
3. Check the terms have a date or version so you know which set applies.
4. Look for vague discretion clauses such as “at our sole discretion”; the Commission says terms must not give operators undue discretion.
5. After joining, confirm the bonus area links to the same terms.
6. If anything is missing or contradictory, ask support in writing and keep the answer.

Our how to spot unfair bonus terms guide lists the warning signs in more detail.

Timeline: rules on accessible promotion terms

For the full list of rule changes, see the bonus rules timeline, or go back to the UK casino bonus rules hub.

Partner offers and their key terms

These partner offers are set out with their significant conditions so you can compare them on the same footing. All are for new customers aged 18 and over; full terms apply.

• Coral Casino: deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p (£10 of spins) on selected games; accept within 48 hours; valid 7 days; no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don’t qualify.
• Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and spend £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day over 10 days, up to 500 at 10p (up to £50 of spins); claim by 23:59 daily; valid 7 days; no wagering. See Ladbrokes casino bonus terms.
• PlayOJO: first deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p (£8 of spins); winnings paid in cash with no wagering; not available in Northern Ireland; designated offer link only.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited, so check the terms if you already hold an account with one of them.

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.