Online table game speed rules in Great Britain set a floor of 5 seconds from the start of one game until the next game cycle can begin, for RNG roulette, blackjack, baccarat, house-played poker and other non-slot casino games. The rule, RTS requirement 14G, took effect on 17 January 2025, alongside a ban on autoplay across all online casino games.
Since 17 January 2025, non-slot casino games must allow at least 5 seconds from the start of one game cycle to the start of the next.
A round can finish sooner; it is the next round that has to wait until the full 5 seconds have passed.
Peer-to-peer poker and bingo are excluded; house-played games such as three card poker are included.
At the maximum pace a game can run 720 rounds an hour, so stake size and time spent still drive what you lose.
Autoplay is banned and net position and elapsed time must be shown on these games too.
Rule
RTS requirement 14G
Minimum
5 seconds per game cycle
In force
17 January 2025
Covers
Online casino games other than slots
Excluded
Peer-to-peer poker and bingo
Slots comparison
2.5 seconds since 31 October 2021
What the online table game speed rules say
Requirement 14G of the Gambling Commission’s remote technical standards says it must be a minimum of 5 seconds from the time a game is started until the next game cycle can be commenced. It was adopted after the summer 2023 consultation, with the decision published on 1 May 2024 and the rule in force from 17 January 2025. The Commission’s speed of play decision (opens in a new tab) sets out the reasoning in full.
It mirrors the 2.5-second spin rule for slots, which has applied since 31 October 2021, but sets a longer floor because table games carry bigger average losses per minute. Both are part of a wider package of online casino game design rules.
How the 5 seconds is measured
The clock runs from the moment you start a game cycle, by pressing a deal or spin button or taking an equivalent action, until the next cycle can begin. A cycle ends when every stake has been lost or made available to collect and the start control is available again. The detail that confuses people is that the result itself can arrive quicker: an RNG roulette spin might show its number in two seconds, but you can’t start the next spin until five seconds have passed since the first began.
How a 5-second game cycle works on RNG roulette
Time
What happens
0.0 s
You press Spin; the game cycle starts
About 2 s (varies)
The ball lands and the result is shown
2 s to 5 s
Winnings are credited; the Spin button stays unavailable
5.0 s
The next game cycle can be started, but only by a fresh press
You also have to commit to each round individually. Holding a button, key or screen down should not start another cycle, which is the table-game version of the autoplay ban.
Which online table games the speed rules cover
The rule applies to casino games other than slots and peer-to-peer poker. The Commission specifically confirmed that house-played poker, such as three card poker, is in scope. Peer-to-peer poker and bingo are excluded because their rounds already last far longer than five seconds on average.
Scope of the 5-second minimum
Game type
Covered by RTS 14G?
Notes
RNG roulette (European, French, American)
Yes
Fast-settling, so the floor applies directly
RNG blackjack
Yes
Decisions usually take longer than 5 seconds anyway
RNG baccarat
Yes
Rounds settle without decisions, so the floor matters
House-played poker (three card poker, Casino Hold’em)
Yes
Confirmed in scope by the Commission
Dice and other instant RNG casino games
Yes, as non-slot casino games
Check the game’s help screen
Slots
No
Covered by the 2.5-second rule instead
Peer-to-peer poker
No
Players compete against each other
Online bingo
No
Games last much longer than 5 seconds
Live dealer tables
Not addressed in the decision
Live rounds run at dealer pace, well above 5 seconds
Why the Commission set a speed limit on table games
Table games usually play more slowly than slots, so why regulate them? The Commission’s answer was intensity. Patterns of Play data it cited put average losses at £1.12 per minute on online casino games, against 31.8p per minute on slots. Some of the fastest RNG variants could also run quicker than a slot, which the 2.5-second slot floor had already ruled out.
It rejected much slower minimums. Some academics proposed 60, 72 or even 144 seconds, but the Commission pointed to its own survey of online casino players, published in February 2024, in which at least 70% of respondents across seven game categories described the speed as about right, and more of the rest found games too slow than too fast. It also worried that very slow games would push people to other products. Five seconds was a simple single rule that would cut the fastest play without remaking every game.
What 5 seconds means for your stake: the maths
Five seconds per cycle caps any non-slot game at 12 rounds a minute, or 720 an hour. That ceiling matters because expected loss is simply turnover multiplied by the house edge. The examples below assume a player who plays at the maximum pace allowed, which few people do, and use standard published house edges; variants differ, and each game’s help screen shows its live figure.
Expected loss per hour at the maximum allowed pace
Game
Stake per round
Max rounds per hour
Turnover
House edge (typical)
Expected loss
European roulette (RNG)
£2
720
£1,440
2.7%
£38.88
American roulette (RNG)
£2
720
£1,440
5.26%
£75.74
Baccarat, banker bet (RNG)
£5
720
£3,600
About 1.06%
About £38
Slot at 2.5 seconds, for comparison
£1
1,440
£1,440
4% (96% RTP)
£57.60
Two lessons fall out. First, the rule limits pace, not stakes: online table games have no equivalent of the £5 slot stake limit, so a higher stake raises the hourly figure in direct proportion. Second, these are averages; short sessions swing widely either way. Our casino bankroll basics shows how to size stakes for a set budget and our best odds guide compares edges across games.
Betting systems don’t change any of this. Whether you double after a loss or spread chips across the table, each round carries the same edge, and a faster or slower game only changes how quickly turnover builds.
Other rules that reached table games on 17 January 2025
The 5-second floor arrived as part of a package that extended the 2021 slot rules to the wider casino lobby:
No autoplay on any online gaming product, with a narrow exception for auto-posting blinds in peer-to-peer poker.
Net position and elapsed time shown throughout a session on casino games, excluding peer-to-peer poker; see the net position display rule.
No simultaneous play of multiple casino games, extended from slots.
Turbo and slam stop: the 2025 executive summary didn’t state a final decision on extending the slots ban to other games, so we don’t describe one.
The speed rule is really about RNG games, where software could otherwise deal or spin as fast as a button is pressed. A live casino table works differently: a dealer spins a real wheel or deals real cards, with a betting window before each round, so a live round naturally takes far longer than five seconds. The decision we read doesn’t address live tables directly, so we don’t say whether they are formally in scope. Fast-format live games such as Speed Baccarat are still paced by the dealer and the studio.
What the table game speed rules don’t cover
Stake limits: there is no per-round cap on table games, unlike online slots.
Session length: you can still play for hours; use reality checks and time limits for that.
House edge: the rule doesn’t change the odds or payouts of any game.
Land-based casinos: the rule is a remote technical standard for online games.
Peer-to-peer poker and bingo, which are expressly outside it.
How to check a game follows the speed rules
Open the game’s help or rules screen and note the game name and supplier.
Play a single round and watch when the deal or spin control becomes available again.
Confirm the control needs a fresh press each round and that no autoplay option appears.
Check that net position and session time are shown on screen.
If a game looks too fast, screenshot or record it and report it to the casino’s support team.
If you are not satisfied, use the casino’s complaints process and then its dispute service.
Any casino licensed by the Gambling Commission must apply the 5-second minimum, so the rule doesn’t separate one licensed site from another. Coral and PlayOJO both hold Commission licences; PlayOJO’s register entry lists slots, live casino and bingo among its products, and our Coral live casino page covers what Coral publishes. Check each game’s help screen for its rules and return figure.
The welcome offers shown below are for slots rather than table games, are for new players aged 18+, and carry terms: Coral’s needs a deposit and a £10 bet on slots for 100 free spins at 10p each, valid for 7 days with no wagering on winnings, and PlayOJO’s gives 80 free spins at 10p each on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of at least £10, with no wagering and Northern Ireland excluded. Treat any play as paid entertainment; losses are likely over time.
Coral and PlayOJO are both licensed by the Gambling Commission, so their online casino games follow the 5-second rule. 18+, new players only, terms apply.
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
What are the online table game speed rules in the UK?
Online casino games other than slots must allow at least 5 seconds from the start of one game cycle until the next can begin. The rule is requirement 14G of the Gambling Commission’s remote technical standards and has applied since 17 January 2025. It covers RNG roulette, blackjack, baccarat and house-played poker, but not peer-to-peer poker or bingo. A round can finish sooner, but the next round can’t start until 5 seconds have passed. Our online casino game design rules page shows how it fits with the other rules.
Does the 5-second rule apply to live roulette?
The Commission’s decision doesn’t address live dealer games directly, so we can’t say they are formally in scope. In practice it makes little difference, because a live roulette round includes a betting window and a physical spin, which takes far longer than five seconds. The rule is aimed at RNG games, where software could otherwise produce results as fast as you press a button. Our online roulette guide compares live and RNG versions, including their pace and house edge.
Why do slots have 2.5 seconds but table games 5 seconds?
The Commission set a longer floor for table games because they carry higher average losses per minute. Data it cited showed £1.12 per minute on online casino games against 31.8p per minute on slots. Slots got their 2.5-second minimum on 31 October 2021; the 5-second rule for other casino games followed on 17 January 2025. The Commission chose one simple figure for all non-slot games rather than separate speeds per game. Our spin speed limit page covers the slot rule in detail.
Is online blackjack affected by the speed rules?
Yes, RNG blackjack is a non-slot casino game, so the 5-second minimum applies. In practice most hands already take longer than five seconds because you decide whether to hit, stand, double or split. The rule matters more for games that settle without decisions, such as RNG baccarat or roulette. Autoplay is also banned on blackjack, and your net position and session time must be shown. Our blackjack basic strategy page explains how decisions affect the house edge, which the speed rule doesn’t change.
How many rounds an hour can I play under the 5-second rule?
At the absolute maximum pace, 12 rounds a minute or 720 an hour. Real play is usually slower because of decisions, placing chips and breaks. The figure is useful for budgeting: 720 rounds at £2 on European roulette is £1,440 of turnover, and at a 2.7% house edge that is an expected loss of about £38.88 an hour, with large swings either way. Our casino odds explained guide shows how to work out expected loss for other games and stakes.
Can I use autoplay on online roulette in the UK?
No, autoplay has been banned on all online gaming products licensed in Great Britain since 17 January 2025, extending the slot ban that began on 31 October 2021. Each round must be started individually, and holding a button down should not start another. The only exception is the auto-posting of blinds in peer-to-peer poker. Some games called “auto roulette” are live wheels that spin automatically without a dealer; that is a game format, not autoplay of your bets. Our auto roulette page explains the difference.
Do the speed rules apply to video poker?
Video poker is a casino game rather than a slot or peer-to-peer poker, so it falls within the description of games the 5-second rule targets. The Commission specifically named house-played poker such as three card poker as in scope. As always, check the help screen of the specific game for its rules and return figure. Video poker pay tables vary widely between versions, which matters far more to your results than pace does. Our video poker guide explains how to read a pay table.
Does the table game speed rule change the house edge?
No, the speed rule changes how quickly rounds can be played, not the odds or payouts. European roulette keeps its 2.7% house edge whether a spin takes two seconds or twenty. What changes is turnover: fewer rounds an hour means less money staked, and so a lower expected loss over the same time at the same stake. Betting systems don’t alter the edge either. Our house edge glossary entry explains the calculation with worked examples.
What should I do if a table game seems too fast?
Note the game’s name and supplier from its help screen, then record or screenshot a few rounds showing when the controls become available again. Report it to the casino’s support team in writing. If the response doesn’t resolve it, use the operator’s complaints procedure; after eight weeks you can take an unresolved complaint to its approved dispute service. The Commission doesn’t settle individual complaints but does act on breaches, as the Stakelogic case in June 2026 showed. Our complaints and ADR page explains the stages.
When did the table game speed rules start?
The 5-second minimum started on 17 January 2025. The Commission consulted in summer 2023 and published its decision on 1 May 2024, giving operators and suppliers time to update games. The same date brought the autoplay ban, net position and session time displays, and the ban on playing multiple games at once to casino games beyond slots. Our UK casino changes in 2025 guide lists everything that took effect that year in date order.
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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