A game cycle is one complete round of a casino game: it starts when you press start and ends when all the money staked is lost or any winnings are made available to you. UK rules use it as their unit of measurement, so slot stake limits, minimum spin times and the autoplay ban are all counted per game cycle.
A game cycle runs from pressing start until the stake is lost or winnings are available to collect.
Slot stake limits of £5 (25+) and £2 (18–24) apply per game cycle, including any extra stake inside it.
Slots need at least 2.5 seconds per game cycle; other casino games need at least 5 seconds.
Each game cycle must be started by you: autoplay is banned.
Starts
When you press start
Ends
When the stake is lost or winnings are available
Slot minimum
2.5 seconds (since 31 October 2021)
Other casino games
5 seconds (since 17 January 2025)
Slot stake cap
£5 (25+) or £2 (18–24) per cycle
Game cycle meaning
In everyday terms, a game cycle is "one go". On a slot it's a spin plus anything that follows from it before you can collect, such as a cascade of symbols or a prize choice. On roulette it's one spin of the wheel, from bets placed to bets settled.
The Commission's online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) defines it as running from the start of a game until all money staked is lost or all winnings are made available to the player. Its RTS 14 guidance puts it the same way, from pressing start until the money staked or won is lost or made available for collection. You'll find the term across our casino app glossary wherever a rule is measured.
The Commission's guidance uses worked examples to show where a cycle begins and ends.
A 27-year-old stakes £2 on a slot. Within the same game cycle, they may be offered the chance to stake up to £3 more, because the total stays at £5.
A 19-year-old stakes £2. They're already at their £2 cap, so nothing more can be offered until the cycle ends.
A 27-year-old stakes £5 and wins a prize. They may reject it for a chance at a larger prize without staking anything extra. If that fails, the balance has dropped only by the original £5.
The third example matters: an optional prize gamble with no new stake can sit inside one game cycle. Our page on online slot stake limits in the UK has more.
Minimum game cycle times and the cost of an hour
The minimum times set a ceiling on rounds per hour: 3,600 seconds ÷ 2.5 is 1,440 slot spins, and 3,600 ÷ 5 is 720 rounds of other casino games. The Commission notes the 5 seconds runs from the start of one game to the start of the next, so a round can finish sooner. Expected loss is stake times house edge, per Wizard of Odds on the house edge (opens in a new tab).
Ceiling on an hour's play at £1 a round
Game
Minimum cycle
Max rounds an hour
Staked
Expected loss
Slot with 96% RTP (4% edge)
2.5 seconds
1,440
£1,440
£57.60
Single-zero roulette (2.70% edge)
5 seconds
720
£720
£19.44
Real play is slower than these ceilings, but the gap shows why the rules focus on cycle length. Read about house edge for the maths.
Bonus games inside a game cycle
The Commission's RTS 14 on responsible product design (opens in a new tab) exempts bonus games that need no extra stake from the speed requirement, and reveal-all features aren't banned. A bonus round triggered by a paid spin can therefore play out at its own pace. Whether free spins count towards the stake cap isn't covered in the guidance.
Each spin from these offers is one game cycle at 10p, so it's nowhere near the £2 or £5 caps. They're slot offers only; table and live games aren't included. 18+ and terms apply.
Coral Casino (18+, new players): between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, deposit and bet £10+ on slots to get 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each. They must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
Ladbrokes Casino (18+, new customers): deposit and spend £10+ on slots to receive 50 free spins a day for your first 10 days, up to 500 at 10p each on selected games. Claim each day's spins before 23:59; they're valid for 7 days and carry no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits are excluded.
PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland): a first deposit of £10 or more brings 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each. No wagering applies and winnings are paid in cash. You can't pair it with another promotion, and it's open only via the designated offer link.
Because Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain), you may not be able to open new accounts with 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
What is a game cycle in online gambling?
A game cycle is one complete round of a game, from pressing start until all the money staked is lost or any winnings are made available to you. UK rules use it to measure stake limits and minimum speeds, so it's the unit behind the £5 and £2 slot caps. Our stake limit entry shows how those caps apply.
How long is a game cycle on a UK slot?
At least 2.5 seconds from the start of one spin to the start of the next, under RTS 14D since 31 October 2021. It can be longer if the round includes cascades or features. You must also release and press start again between spins, since autoplay is banned. Our guide to why slots spin slower on UK apps explains the background.
Does a game cycle include the bonus round?
It can. A cycle lasts until the money staked is lost or winnings are made available, so a feature triggered by a paid spin may form part of it. Bonus games that need no extra stake are exempt from the speed requirement. The guidance doesn't say whether free spins count towards the stake cap. See free spins in casino apps for how spin offers work.
What is the game cycle rule for roulette and blackjack?
Since 17 January 2025, casino games other than slots need at least 5 seconds per game cycle, measured from the start of one game to the start of the next. That covers games such as roulette, blackjack and house-played poker, but not peer-to-peer poker or bingo. Slot stake caps don't apply to these games. The game speed rules page has details.
Can I stake more during a game cycle?
Only up to the cap on slots. A player aged 25 or over who stakes £2 can be offered up to £3 more within the same cycle, while an 18 to 24-year-old who stakes £2 can't be offered anything more until it ends. Every extra stake inside the cycle counts towards the limit. Read the full rule under online slot stake limits.
Why do UK rules use game cycles instead of spins?
Because a single round can involve more than one action, such as a prize gamble or an extra stake offered mid-round. Measuring per game cycle stops a limit being sidestepped by splitting one round into steps. It also gives the speed rules a clear start and end point. Our online game design rules page shows where else the term appears.
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