An affordability check is the everyday name people use for a casino app checking whether you can afford to gamble. The Gambling Commission says the label is inaccurate and that it has no plans for affordability checks. What actually applies in Great Britain is a light public-record check once net deposits pass £150 in 30 days.
"Affordability check" is a media and player label, not an official UK rule.
The live rule is a financial vulnerability check at £150 net deposits in a rolling 30 days.
Credit-reference financial risk assessments were piloted but aren't live.
Operators can still ask about your finances under separate harm and money laundering duties.
Official term
Financial vulnerability check
Live threshold
£150 net deposits in 30 days
Live since
28 February 2025 (£500 from 30 August 2024)
Credit-data checks
Piloted only, not live
Commission view
"Affordability check" is inaccurate
What people mean by an affordability check
When players, forums or newspapers talk about an affordability check, they usually picture a casino app demanding payslips before letting them play. The phrase grew out of the 2023 gambling white paper debate about spending checks. It's now used loosely for almost any money-related question an app asks.
That loose use causes confusion. The Gambling Commission has said the term is inaccurate, and that it has no plans for affordability checks. It's one of several terms in our casino app glossary where the common name and the official one don't match.
Affordability checks in the UK: what's actually live
Three different things get lumped together under this label. Only one of them is a standing rule that applies to every account.
What the "affordability check" label can refer to
What people call it
Official name
Live in October 2026?
What it uses
Light affordability check
Financial vulnerability check (LCCP 3.4.4)
Yes, at £150 net deposits in 30 days
Public records: bankruptcy, CCJs, IVAs, debt relief orders
Under licence condition 3.4.4 (opens in a new tab), an operator runs a light check of public records once your deposits minus withdrawals pass £150 in any rolling 30-day period. It looks for markers such as bankruptcy, county court judgments, individual voluntary arrangements and debt relief orders.
Most players won't notice it, because it happens in the background. A repeat check isn't required at the threshold if one was carried out in the previous 12 months. The idea of net deposits is central here, so it's worth understanding how that figure is worked out.
A worked example
Say you deposit £100 on 2 March and another £80 on 20 March, and withdraw £40 on 25 March. Your net deposits for that 30-day window are £100 + £80 − £40 = £140, which is under the £150 threshold. Another £20 deposit before the window rolls on would take you to £160 and over it.
The affordability proposals that were never introduced
Much of the worry about affordability checks comes from proposals that didn't become rules. The 2023 white paper floated light checks at £125 net loss in a month or £500 in a year, and enhanced checks at £1,000 net loss in 24 hours or £2,000 in 90 days, halved for 18 to 24-year-olds.
Those figures were never implemented. Instead, the Commission ran a pilot of credit-reference assessments with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Its post-pilot update in April 2026 (opens in a new tab) said 97% of assessments would have been frictionless and no decision had been made. Our financial risk check entry covers the pilot in more detail.
Where affordability questions show up in a casino app
You may still be contacted about money even though full affordability checks don't exist. The rules on customer interaction require operators to watch spend, time and behaviour and to act on signs of harm. Separately, anti-money laundering duties can lead to a source of funds request.
Read the message carefully to see whether it's about harm, money laundering or identity.
Check it came from the operator by opening the app yourself, not a link in a text or email.
Answer honestly; the questions are there to protect you as well as meet legal duties.
Use the moment to review your spending in the app's transaction history.
If the figures surprise you, set a lower limit or take a break before playing again.
Terms related to affordability checks
Deposit limit: a cap you set on how much you can pay in over a period.
Loss limit: a cap on how much you can lose over a period.
KYC: the identity check every UK app completes before you can gamble.
Withdrawal: taking money out, which lowers your net deposits.
Every UK-licensed app runs the same £150 financial vulnerability check, so this isn't a point of difference between the apps below. Each welcome offer starts with a £10 qualifying amount, well under that threshold on its own. All offers are 18+ and terms apply.
Coral: deposit and bet £10+ on slots (new players, some deposit types excluded) for 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games. Accept them within 48 hours and use them within 7 days; free spin winnings have no wagering. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Ladbrokes: new customers who deposit and spend £10+ on slots receive 50 free spins daily for 10 days (500 maximum), each worth 10p on selected games. Claim before 23:59 each day, use within 7 days, no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't count.
PlayOJO: a first deposit of £10 or more brings new UK customers (not Northern Ireland) 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, with winnings paid as cash and no wagering. It can't be combined with other offers and is only available through the designated offer link.
Coral and Ladbrokes share an operator, LC International Limited, so one person may not be able to hold new accounts at both.
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 another; check the terms first.
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 our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
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 our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission 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 our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Are affordability checks mandatory in the UK?
Not in the form most people imagine. The Gambling Commission says "affordability check" is an inaccurate description and that it has no plans for affordability checks. What is mandatory is a financial vulnerability check of public records once your net deposits pass £150 in a rolling 30 days. Our page on financial risk checks explains the rule and its history.
At what amount does a casino app check if I can afford to gamble?
The fixed trigger is £150 of net deposits in a rolling 30-day period. At that point the operator runs a light check of public records such as bankruptcy and county court judgments. Operators can also contact you at other points if they see signs of harm. Our net deposits entry shows how deposits and withdrawals are combined to reach that figure.
Do affordability checks affect my credit score?
The live check uses public records rather than a full credit search, and the credit-reference financial risk assessments were only piloted, not introduced. Whether a particular operator's own checks leave any mark on your file depends on how they're run, so ask the operator directly if it matters to you. Our financial risk check entry covers what the pilot involved.
Why did a casino app ask for my payslips?
Most likely because of source of funds or customer interaction duties, not a formal affordability rule. Operators must look out for signs of harm and must understand where larger sums come from. The Commission says they may ask for bank statements or information about irregular income. Our source of funds entry explains what's usually requested and how to respond.
Can I avoid affordability checks by using several apps?
Spreading play across apps isn't something we'd suggest, and it doesn't change the rules: each licensed operator runs its own checks on its own accounts. More importantly, if you're thinking about ways round spending checks, that's a sign to pause. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free and open 24 hours a day.
Will full affordability checks come in later?
No decision had been made as of October 2026. The Commission's April 2026 update said the pilot findings would go to its Board, with 97% of assessments in the pilot expected to be frictionless. Until any announcement, credit-reference assessments are not live. Our page on the 2023 white paper shows which proposals were implemented and which weren't.
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