Can casinos change bonus terms? Yes for future customers, but only within tight limits for anyone who has already opted in. A UK-licensed casino can end or rewrite an offer going forward, yet its terms must be clear and fair, and consumer law and Gambling Commission rules stop it moving the goalposts on a bonus you have already claimed.
Casinos can withdraw or rewrite offers for people who haven't claimed yet.
Changing the deal for someone who has already opted in is where unfairness starts.
Bonus terms must be clear, transparent, fair and readily accessible (LCCP 5.1.1).
A broad 'we can change anything at any time' clause is open to challenge under consumer law.
Keep a dated screenshot of the terms when you claim; it is your best evidence.
Short answer
Yes for new claims; limited once you opt in
Key UK rule
LCCP social responsibility code 5.1.1
Consumer law
Consumer Rights Act 2015 and DMCC Act 2024
Wagering cap
10x since 19 January 2026
Where to complain
The casino, then its ADR provider
Time for casino to resolve
8 weeks
Can casinos change bonus terms? The direct answer
A casino is free to decide what it offers next week. It can shorten a promotion, lower the number of spins, add an excluded payment method or close an offer altogether, provided the change applies to people who haven't yet claimed. What it can't fairly do is take a bonus you have already accepted and rewrite the conditions under you, for example by raising the wagering after you have started playing it through.
That line between future claimants and existing claimants runs through UK consumer law, the Gambling Commission's licence codes and the undertakings the Competition and Markets Authority secured from operators in 2018. This page, part of our casino questions hub, explains each one and what to do if you think a casino has crossed it.
Bonus term changes: what is normally allowed and what is likely unfair
How UK rules tend to treat different changes to bonus terms
Change
Applies to
Likely position
Offer ends on its published date
Everyone
Allowed; that was the deal
Offer withdrawn early with notice
New claimants
Generally allowed
Fewer spins or a smaller match for new sign-ups
New claimants
Generally allowed
Higher wagering added after you opted in
Existing claimants
Likely unfair
New game exclusions applied to a bonus mid-wagering
Existing claimants
Likely unfair unless clearly flagged earlier
Wagering above 10x on any bonus
Anyone, since 19 January 2026
Breaks the licence code
Clause letting the casino void winnings at its discretion
Anyone
Open to challenge; the Commission has fined for one
Notice that the table speaks of likely positions. Whether a particular change is unfair depends on the exact wording, how prominently it was shown and how it affected you. That is ultimately for an ADR body or a court to decide, not for us.
What the Gambling Commission's rules say about bonus terms
Every licensed casino must follow social responsibility code 5.1.1 on incentives. The current code text (opens in a new tab) requires bonus terms to be clear, transparent and fair, and readily accessible to anyone the offer is made to. Since 19 January 2026 it also caps wagering at 10 times, bans offers mixing casino with betting, bingo or lottery products, and stops a casino altering or increasing a reward because you hit the qualifying activity faster than the full offer period.
Two practical consequences follow. First, a casino that changes its terms still has to keep them clear and easy to find, so a silent edit to a buried page sits badly with the code. Second, no change can ever push a UK bonus past the 10x wagering cap or turn it into a mixed-product promotion.
The Commission does enforce this area. In July 2025 Taichi Tech Limited, which ran Fafabet, was fined £170,000 for failures that included a term letting it close accounts or forfeit winnings at its discretion.
Can a casino change bonus terms under consumer law?
Gambling terms are consumer contracts, so the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to them: a term that causes a significant imbalance against you, contrary to good faith, is not binding. A clause giving a casino a free hand to change any promotion at any time, for any reason, is the classic example of a term that may fail that test, especially if it is used against someone who has already played under the original deal.
The CMA's online gambling case (opens in a new tab), which ran from October 2016 to April 2019, put this into practice. One operator agreed in March 2018 not to include terms that could be used to unfairly change promotions after players had opted in, and to flag significant restrictions clearly. Others committed to letting players withdraw their own money during bonus play. The CMA notes its guidance predates the unfair commercial practices provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, in force from 6 April 2025, which strengthen the position further.
Most changes are routine and fair. Welcome offers run for a set period or "until further notice", and casinos refresh them regularly. Coral's current offer, for example, runs from 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027, while Ladbrokes' welcome offer has run since 14 November 2025 "until further notice", meaning it can end whenever Ladbrokes decides. Neither phrase allows changes to a bonus you have already claimed.
Regulation forces changes too. When the 10x cap arrived on 19 January 2026, offers with higher wagering had to change, and offers linking sports bets to casino spins disappeared. We tracked the shift in before and after the 10x cap, and our how casino offers change guide explains the usual cycle of launch, renewal and withdrawal.
Routine refresh: a new welcome offer replaces the old one for new sign-ups.
Early closure: an offer is pulled before its end date; claims already made should stand.
Rule-driven change: terms are rewritten to meet a new legal requirement.
Clarification: wording is tidied without changing the substance.
Three worked examples of changed bonus terms
Example 1: the offer ends before you claim
You read about 100 free spins on Monday, register on Friday, and the casino has replaced the offer with 50 spins. Because you hadn't claimed, you are entitled only to what was live when you opted in. Annoying, but fair.
Example 2: wagering raised mid-bonus
You claim a £20 bonus with 5x wagering, so £100 of play. After you have staked £60 the casino says the requirement is now 10x, meaning £200. That moves the goalposts on a bonus you have already accepted, and is the kind of change the CMA undertakings were designed to stop. Complain, quoting the original terms.
Example 3: new game exclusion
Halfway through wagering, a slot you were using is added to the excluded list. If the terms you accepted said that list could change and the casino told you clearly, the position is arguable; if nothing warned you, push back. Either way, stakes placed before the change should count as they did when you placed them.
What to do if a casino changes your bonus terms
Find your evidence: a dated screenshot or the offer email, plus the terms version shown when you opted in.
Check what changed and when, and whether you had already opted in or deposited.
Contact customer support in writing (chat transcript or email) and ask which terms apply to your claim and why.
If the reply doesn't resolve it, raise a formal complaint using the casino's published complaints procedure.
Wait for the final response. The casino has 8 weeks to resolve a complaint.
If it is still unresolved, take it to the casino's named ADR provider, such as IBAS. ADR is free.
Keep playing decisions separate from the dispute: don't deposit more to 'rescue' a bonus.
We last checked both offers on 5 October 2026. Both are 18+, for new customers, and full terms apply. Gambling costs money; set a limit before you deposit.
Coral Casino: the published window is 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Deposit, then bet at least £10 on slots, and 100 free spins at 10p each arrive on selected games; accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, and keep any winnings without wagering. Payments by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid card and certain debit cards don't count. More on Coral's bonus terms.
PlayOJO: a first deposit of £10 or more unlocks 80 free spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Bonanza, with winnings paid in cash and no wagering. It is for new UK customers (not Northern Ireland), works only through the designated offer link and can't be combined with other offers. More on PlayOJO's bonus terms.
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 the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC 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 the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Are casinos allowed to alter bonus terms once I've opted in?
It shouldn't change them to your disadvantage once you have accepted the offer. Gambling Commission rules require bonus terms to be clear and fair, and in 2018 the CMA secured an undertaking that included not unfairly changing promotions after players had opted in. A casino can still end an offer for new claimants. If your terms change mid-bonus, ask in writing which version applies and complain if the answer isn't satisfactory. Our bonus terms rules page explains the legal background.
Is a casino allowed to cancel a promotion early?
Yes, a casino can usually stop offering a promotion to new claimants before its planned end date, particularly where it said the offer ran until further notice. What it shouldn't do is cancel rewards already earned by people who met the conditions while the offer was live. If you had qualified before the closure, you should receive what was promised. Keep the dated offer screenshot. Our guide to how casino offers change covers renewals and early withdrawals in more detail.
Is a 'we can change these terms at any time' clause legal?
Such a clause is common, but it isn't a blank cheque. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a term that creates a significant imbalance against you contrary to good faith is not binding, and a broad power to rewrite a deal you have already accepted is a typical example. The Commission also requires bonus terms to be fair. The practical test is how the clause is used. See our consumer rights in online gambling page for the main protections.
Did the 10x wagering cap change existing bonuses?
The cap applies to bonuses offered by UK-licensed casinos from 19 January 2026, and offers with higher wagering had to change from that date. How each casino handled bonuses already in progress on that day depended on its own approach, so the published terms and the casino's notices are the place to check. Since then, no UK bonus may require more than 10 times the bonus in wagering. Our before and after the 10x cap page shows how typical offers changed.
Are new game exclusions allowed during my bonus?
It depends on what the terms you accepted said and how clearly the casino told you. Bets already placed should count as they did when you placed them. A sudden exclusion with no warning that hits a bonus you are part-way through is the kind of mid-offer change that may be unfair. Ask support which games list applies to your bonus and keep the reply. For why games are excluded in the first place, read why are some games excluded from bonuses.
What evidence do I need if bonus terms changed?
The strongest evidence is a dated screenshot of the offer and its full terms from when you opted in, plus any promotional email or text. Add your account history showing the opt-in, deposit and stakes, and any chat transcripts. Casinos keep versions of their terms, so you can ask for the version in force on the date you claimed. Put it all in one written complaint. Our complaints guide shows how to lay it out.
Who decides if a bonus term change was unfair?
Start with the casino's own complaints process, which it must publish. If you aren't satisfied after its final response, or after 8 weeks, you can take the dispute free of charge to the casino's ADR provider, which reaches an independent decision. IBAS is one of several Commission-approved providers. The Gambling Commission itself doesn't rule on individual complaints, although it uses them to spot problems. Courts are the final option. Read complaints and ADR for the full route.
Can a casino change bonus terms because of a new law?
Yes, and it must if a new rule makes the old terms non-compliant. That happened on 19 January 2026, when the 10x wagering cap and the ban on mixed-product offers took effect, and casinos had to rewrite affected promotions. A legally required change is different from a commercial one: it applies whether or not the casino wants it. Our latest bonus rules page lists the rule changes, and the mixed-product ban page explains that rule.
Do the same limits cover existing customer offers?
The same principles apply to existing-customer promotions as to welcome offers. A casino can change what it offers in future weeks, but it shouldn't rewrite a reload bonus, cashback deal or free spins drop you have already claimed. Remember that existing-customer offers only reach you if you opted in to casino marketing on that channel, a rule in force since 1 May 2025. Our page on offers for existing customers shows what our partners currently run.
Should I keep playing while I dispute a bonus change?
Only if you would play anyway, and never to try to recover the bonus. Playing on can make the facts harder to untangle, and adding deposits to rescue a disputed offer risks chasing losses. It is usually better to pause, raise the complaint and wait for the answer. If the dispute is causing stress, take a break; the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free and open 24/7. See our guide to taking a break from gambling.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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