Game speed rules in the UK

Game speed rules UK: the two minimums

There are two numbers to know. A slot must allow at least 2.5 seconds from the moment a spin starts until the next spin can begin, and you have to release and press the spin button again. Every other casino game must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle.

Both come from the Gambling Commission's RTS 14 standard on responsible product design (opens in a new tab). The slot rule (RTS 14D) has applied since 31 October 2021. The 5-second rule (RTS 14G) arrived on 17 January 2025, after the summer 2023 consultation on speed of play (opens in a new tab).

These timing rules are part of the wider online game design rules on our UK rules hub.

How the game speed is measured

The clock runs from the start of one game to the start of the next. It isn't a rule that every animation must last 2.5 or 5 seconds. A game may finish its result sooner, but the next game cycle can't begin until the minimum has passed.

A game cycle runs from pressing start until all money staked is lost or any winnings are made available for collection. On a slot that's usually one spin. On a table game it's one round, such as one spin of the roulette wheel or one blackjack hand. Our game cycle glossary entry has more examples.

The 2.5 seconds is a floor, not a target. Many slots take longer per spin because of their animations, so your real pace is often slower than the minimum.

Why there's no turbo or slam stop in UK apps

A minimum speed would mean little if you could skip to the result. RTS 14E says the system must not let a customer reduce the time until the result is shown. That rules out turbo modes, quick-spin settings and slam stop, where a tap on the reels stops them early.

The turbo ban started with slots in 2021. From 17 January 2025, the Commission's limits on features that speed up results reached other online casino games too. There's one exception: the RTS 14 guidance says the rule doesn't apply to bonus or feature games where no extra stake is placed, and it doesn't ban "reveal-all" features.

For the quick version, see can I turbo spin on a UK casino app, and our glossary entries on turbo spin and slam stop.

What the game speed rules mean per hour in pounds

Speed matters because cost builds with every round. The expected cost of play is the number of rounds × the stake × the house edge. At the legal minimums, a slot can run 3,600 ÷ 2.5 = 1,440 spins an hour, and a table game 3,600 ÷ 5 = 720 rounds an hour.

Those are ceilings that no real session reaches, but they show the scale. The table uses £1 stakes, a slot with a 96% RTP (a 4% edge) and single-zero roulette, whose house edge is 2.70% on every bet.

Real results swing far from these figures in both directions, and the house edge means losses are likely over time. The point is that pace multiplies cost. See house edge by game for other games.

Speed limits on live casino and speed games

Live dealer games are rarely close to the 5-second floor, because a dealer has to spin a wheel or deal cards. Evolution says its Speed Roulette rounds take about 25 seconds, around half a standard round, and its Speed Baccarat rounds about 27 seconds against about 48 for standard baccarat.

So "speed" games are fast by live standards but still far slower than the legal minimum. Our guide to speed casino games on mobile and the Speed Baccarat page explain how those rounds run on a phone.

Enforcing the speed rules: the Stakelogic settlement

The Commission does check timings. In June 2026, game supplier Stakelogic BV agreed to pay £122,835 (opens in a new tab) after some of its slots ran below the 2.5-second minimum. The case shows the rule applies to the studios that build games, not only to the casinos that host them.

If a game in an app feels unusually fast, note the game name and time and contact the operator. Our guide on how to complain about a casino app explains the next steps, including ADR.

How to set your own pace in a casino app

The legal minimum is a floor for the industry, not a recommended pace. These steps help you keep play slower and shorter than the rules require.

1. Decide how long you want to play before you open the app, and set a phone alarm for that time.
2. Set how often reality checks appear in the app's safer-gambling settings, for example every 15 or 30 minutes.
3. Keep an eye on the elapsed-time and net-position display that licensed games must show.
4. Choose games with longer rounds, such as live tables, if a fast slot makes time slip by.
5. Use a time-out if you want a longer break; the app's safer-gambling area lists the options.

Our guides on reality checks in casino apps and taking a time-out show each tool. The mobile side of the timing rules is also covered in game speed rules on mobile casino games.

What the game speed rules don't cover

• Bonus rounds with no extra stake. RTS 14 guidance exempts them from the time-to-result requirement.
• Peer-to-peer poker and bingo. Both are excluded from the 5-second minimum.
• Stake size. Speed rules don't limit stakes; slots have a separate £5 and £2 stake limit.
• Session length. No rule says how long you can play; reality checks and time-outs are the tools for that.
• Autoplay. That's a separate ban; see the UK autoplay ban.

Timeline of the UK game speed rules

The 2021 changes are set out in the Commission's introduction to its online games design response (opens in a new tab).

Slot apps that run at the regulated pace

The three apps below are Gambling Commission-licensed, so every spin meets the 2.5-second minimum and none has turbo. Their offers pay 10p slot spins.

18+, terms apply. Coral: between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, new players who make a qualifying deposit and bet at least £10 on slots get 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games. You have 48 hours to accept them and 7 days to use them, and winnings carry no wagering. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't count.

Ladbrokes: new customers who deposit and spend at least £10 on slots get 50 free spins a day for their first 10 days, up to 500, at 10p each on selected games. Claim each day's batch by 23:59 and use it within 7 days; there's no wagering. Deposits by prepaid card, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill or Moneybookers don't qualify.

PlayOJO: new UK customers, excluding Northern Ireland, get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each with a first deposit of at least £10. There's no wagering and winnings are paid in cash; it can't be combined with other offers and only works through the designated link. Coral and Ladbrokes are run by the same company, so you may not be able to open new accounts at both. For support, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.

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.