Slot stake limits on mobile are the same as on any UK screen: £5 per game cycle if you're 25 or over, and £2 if you're 18 to 24. Every licensed casino app applies them to online slots automatically, based on the age on your verified account. Here's how the cap works in practice, what counts as one game cycle and which games sit outside it.
£5 per game cycle on online slots for players aged 25+, since 9 April 2025.
£2 per game cycle for players aged 18–24, since 21 May 2025.
The cap covers reel-based online slots only, not roulette or blackjack.
It's a legal ceiling, not a target: your own deposit limit can sit far lower.
Age 25 and over
£5 per game cycle
Age 18–24
£2 per game cycle
£5 limit from
9 April 2025
£2 limit from
21 May 2025
Applies to
Online slots (reel-based games)
Slot stake limits on mobile at a glance
The UK's online slot stake limits don't change depending on whether you play in an app, a mobile browser or on a laptop. They're a condition on every remote casino operating licence, so the same ceiling follows your account wherever you log in.
UK online slot stake limits
Your age
Maximum stake per game cycle
In force from
Where it applies
25 and over
£5
9 April 2025
Online slots in any app or website licensed in Great Britain
18 to 24
£2
21 May 2025
Online slots in any app or website licensed in Great Britain
How a casino app applies the stake limit to your account
Casino apps in Great Britain must verify your age before you can deposit or play, so the operator already holds a checked date of birth. That's what decides whether your slot stakes stop at £2 or £5. You don't switch anything on; the cap is built into the slot's stake selector for your account.
In practice the highest stake option in the selector simply won't go past your limit. If you want to see the ceiling for yourself without staking anything, try this.
Log in to the casino app with your verified account.
Open any online slot from the lobby, but don't spin.
Open the stake or bet selector, usually beside the spin button.
Step up to the highest stake option. For a player aged 25 or over it should stop at £5 or below; for an 18–24-year-old, at £2 or below.
Step the stake back down to the amount you actually want before you play, and close the selector.
If you haven't finished verification, the app won't let you play at all. The walkthrough on how casino apps verify your identity explains what's checked and why.
What 'per game cycle' means on a slot app
The limit isn't written as 'per spin' but per game cycle. The Commission defines a game cycle as running from the start of a game until all the money staked is lost or all winnings are made available to you. Any further stake you're asked for inside that cycle counts towards the same £5 or £2.
The Commission's guidance includes scenarios that show how this plays out. We've summarised the ones most relevant to phone players.
How the game cycle rule works (from the Commission's examples)
Situation
Age 25+
Age 18–24
You stake £2 to start a spin
Allowed
Allowed (that's the full limit)
The game offers an extra stake before the cycle ends
Up to £3 more, taking the total to £5
Nothing more until the cycle ends
You stake £5, win a prize and the game offers a gamble on it
Allowed if no extra money is staked; losing leaves you down only the original £5
The same principle applies at the £2 level
The cycle ends and a new spin starts
Limit resets to £5
Limit resets to £2
That third row matters because some slots offer an optional prize gamble after a win. The guidance treats that as part of the same game cycle, because you're not putting in new money. It doesn't mean gamble features are banned; whether a game has one is up to the studio.
Which mobile casino games the stake limit covers
The guidance describes an online slot as a casino game using a reel format played over the internet. That's the whole scope. Other casino games are outside it, even in the same app and on the same account.
Does the £5 / £2 limit apply?
Game type
Covered by the slot stake limit?
Notes
Video slots, Megaways, cluster pays
Yes
Reel-based games played online
Jackpot slots
Yes
They're still online slots
RNG roulette and blackjack
No
Table limits are set by the game and operator
Live dealer tables
No
Not slots, so not in scope
Live game shows with slot-style elements
Not confirmed
The guidance doesn't address them directly; check the game's rules
Free spins from an offer
Not stated
The guidance doesn't say whether free spins count
If you move from a slot to roulette on your phone or a table in the live casino apps section, the stake options can look very different. That's expected: those games follow other rules, such as the 5-second minimum game cycle covered in our game speed rules guide.
What £2 and £5 slot stakes cost per session
A cap on the stake doesn't cap what a session can cost. Your expected loss is the total staked multiplied by the house edge, and the number of spins you play matters as much as the size of each one. The table uses a 96% RTP slot (a 4% house edge) and a 94% one for comparison.
Expected loss per 100 spins at different stakes
Stake per spin
Total staked over 100 spins
Expected loss at 96% RTP
Expected loss at 94% RTP
10p
£10
£0.40
£0.60
50p
£50
£2.00
£3.00
£1
£100
£4.00
£6.00
£2 (18–24 maximum)
£200
£8.00
£12.00
£5 (25+ maximum)
£500
£20.00
£30.00
Slots in Great Britain also have a minimum of 2.5 seconds per game cycle. At that pace an hour could hold up to 1,440 spins, which at £5 a spin is £7,200 staked and an expected loss of £288 at 96% RTP. Real sessions are slower, but the sum shows why a budget in pounds matters more than the stake ceiling. Our RTP guide shows where to find the figure for the slot you're playing.
These are long-run averages. Any single session can end above or below them, and losing is the more likely outcome over time.
White paper proposes a consultation on online slot stake limits
23 February 2024
Government announces £5 and £2 limits
9 April 2025
£5 per game cycle limit in force for adults
21 May 2025
£2 per game cycle limit in force for 18–24-year-olds
The government's February 2024 announcement (opens in a new tab) originally pointed to a September 2024 start, but the limits went live in April and May 2025. They're set out in the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. Our white paper explainer covers the other changes from the same reform.
Age 18 to 24? What the £2 slot limit means for you
If you're under 25, your slot stakes are capped at £2 per game cycle in every UK-licensed app you use. The cap is tied to your age rather than to any setting, so the £5 ceiling applies only from your 25th birthday. If your verified details are wrong, contact the operator's support team to have them corrected.
Younger adults are also covered by advertising rules: CAP guidance says people who are, or seem to be, under 25 shouldn't be shown gambling in most ads. Our page on what age you need to be to use casino apps covers the age rules in full.
Setting your own slot limits below the legal cap
£5 and £2 are the most a slot can take per game cycle. Most players will want their own limits well below that. Since 31 October 2025, UK operators must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit, and you can change it later in your account settings.
Reality checks: a timed reminder showing how long you've been playing; you choose the interval.
Time-outs and self-exclusion: for a break of a set length, or longer.
PlayOJO: its help pages put deposit limits under My Account, then Settings, then Deposit Limits. Decreases apply straight away and increases take 24 hours. See the PlayOJO safer gambling tools page.
If you'd like help planning a budget, our budgeting for casino apps page has a simple method. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free and open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133.
Slot stake limit problems in an app: troubleshooting
Common stake-limit questions on mobile
What you see
Likely reason
What to do
Stake selector stops at £2 and you're 25+
Date of birth on the account may be wrong
Contact support with your verification details
Stake selector stops below £5
Some slots have lower maximum stakes of their own
Check the game's rules screen for its stake range
Roulette or blackjack allow higher stakes
The limit covers slots only
Expected; set your own limits if you want a cap
A prize gamble appears after a win
Allowed within the same game cycle without new money
It's optional; you can decline it
Stakes look different in the app and browser
Display or game version difference
The same account limit applies; contact support if it doesn't
If an app ever lets you stake more than your limit on a slot, report it to the operator first and then through its complaints process. Our casino app complaints guide covers each step.
Slot stake limits in the Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO apps
All three partner brands are licensed by the Gambling Commission, so the £5 and £2 limits apply in their apps exactly as they do elsewhere. Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (account 54743) and have standalone casino apps that need iOS 18.0 or later. PlayOJO is run by Skill On Net Limited (account 39326) and needs iOS 15.0 or later.
Coral's App Store listing describes Megaways and classic fruit machine slots; Ladbrokes' describes 1,800+ slots. Whatever the slot, the stake ceiling is the same. For lobby details, see the Coral Casino slots app page.
Slot offers that sit well inside the stake limits
Each of these welcome offers gives free spins at 10p, a fraction of the £2 and £5 limits. 18+ and terms apply, and normal stake limits apply to your own real-money play.
Coral Casino: 18+, new players. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games; accept within 48 hours, valid for 7 days, no wagering on free spin winnings. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. 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 get 50 free spins a day for 10 days (maximum 500) at 10p each on selected games; claim before 23:59 each day, valid for 7 days, no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't qualify.
PlayOJO: 18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland. First deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each; no wagering, winnings paid in cash. Can't be combined with other offers; designated offer link only.
All three offers use 10p spins, well inside both stake limits. 18+, new customers, T&Cs apply.
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 the maximum slot stake on a UK casino app?
It's £5 per game cycle if you're 25 or over, and £2 if you're 18 to 24. The £5 limit started on 9 April 2025 and the £2 limit on 21 May 2025. Both apply to online slots in any app or website licensed in Great Britain, so switching to a phone makes no difference. Our quick answer on the slot stake limit on apps sums it up.
Does the £5 stake limit apply to roulette and blackjack?
No. The limit covers online slots only, which the Commission describes as reel-based casino games played online. Roulette, blackjack and live dealer tables are outside it, so their stake ranges are set by the game and operator. You can still cap your own spending with a deposit limit. Our roulette app guide covers how table stakes work on a phone.
How does a casino app know whether I'm under 25?
It uses the date of birth on your verified account. UK operators must check your age before you can deposit or play, so the information is already held when you open a slot. The stake selector then caps at £2 or £5 accordingly. If the cap looks wrong for your age, contact support. The casino app age verification page explains the checks.
What is a game cycle?
A game cycle runs from the start of a game until everything staked is lost or all winnings are made available to you. The stake limit applies to the whole cycle, so any extra stake requested inside it counts towards the same £5 or £2. Once the cycle ends, the next spin starts a fresh one. See our game cycle glossary entry for more examples.
Do free spins count towards the slot stake limit?
The Commission's guidance doesn't say. In practice, offer spins are usually set at small values; all three of our partners' welcome spins are 10p each, far below both limits. Your own real-money spins are always capped at £5 or £2 per game cycle depending on your age. Our free spins in casino apps guide explains how spin offers work.
Are gamble features banned because of the stake limit?
No. The Commission's own guidance gives an example of a player who stakes £5, wins, and chooses to gamble the prize for a chance at a larger one without staking anything extra. That stays within the same game cycle. Whether a slot offers a gamble option is the studio's choice. Our game design rules page lists the features that are restricted.
Why can I stake more on live casino than on slots?
Because the £5 and £2 limits were written for online slots only. Live dealer tables and RNG table games have their own stake ranges, and the UK rules for them focus on speed, such as a minimum of 5 seconds per game cycle, rather than stake size. If you want a cap across everything, set a deposit limit. Our live casino apps hub covers those games.
Can I ask a casino app to raise my slot stake limit?
No. The £5 and £2 limits are licence conditions, so no UK-licensed operator can lift them for you, whatever your account history. You can lower your own spending with deposit limits, time-outs and reality checks, and those changes take effect quickly. See setting deposit limits for how it works in most apps.
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