Gambling Commission Delays Cross-Selling Ban to January 2026

The UK Gambling Commission has confirmed that its planned ban on cross-selling strategies will now come into effect on 19 January 2026, one month later than originally scheduled. The delay follows a request from industry stakeholders seeking more time to adjust to the upcoming regulatory changes.

The rule changes form part of broader reforms set out in the government’s gambling white paper, and were initially due to be implemented on 19 December 2025.

Under the new measures, gambling operators will be prohibited from promoting bonuses that require participation in two or more types of gambling (e.g., betting and casino) as a condition for unlocking promotional offers.

In addition, bonus wagering requirements will be capped at 10x, significantly lower than current standards. The Gambling Commission highlighted the potential risks of excessive wagering conditions, stating:

“Some promotional offers provide bonus funds to consumers on the condition the consumer re-stakes any winnings multiple times before being allowed to withdraw winnings from the bonus.

For example, a £10 bonus with a 50 times wagering requirement requires the consumer to play through £500 before the winnings can be withdrawn.”

The Commission said such practices could confuse players and encourage extended, faster-paced gambling. It added that limiting wagering to 10x “decreases the likelihood of harm, reduces complexity and improves transparency while maintaining consumer choice.”

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