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- UK Gambling Commission’s new bonus rules take effect on 19 January 2026, impacting bingo, betting, and casino incentives.
- Operators can no longer mix product types in one offer: for example, combining free spins with bingo credits.
- New rules are part of the LCCP Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1(3b) and apply to free-to-play games and promotions too.
Bingo players should expect big changes to promotional offers in early 2026, as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) enforces new rules that will ban cross-product bonus incentives across betting, casino, bingo, and lottery verticals.
Under updated guidance confirmed on 12 December, all licensed operators must comply with Social Responsibility Code provision 5.1.1(3b), which states that no bonus offer may include more than one type of gambling product.
The new measures will come into force on 19 January 2026.
This means customers will no longer see offers like "Spend £5 on bingo and get 10 free spins", or "Daily prize wheel: win a free bet or bingo tickets", as these mix gambling categories and will be deemed non-compliant under the new framework.
Why the UKGC Is Changing Bonus Rules
According to the Commission’s blog post, the change is designed to protect consumer choice and promote transparency in marketing.
Offers that tie participation in one product to a reward in another are seen as potentially leading players into forms of gambling they might not otherwise engage with.
Senior Policy Manager Pradeep Rajania stated that the guiding principle is "full freedom of choice" meaning that both the qualifying action and the reward must relate to the same gambling category, or the bonus must offer genuine flexibility across all products.
What the expert says...
Examples: What Bingo Offers Are Allowed and What’s Not
To help clarify, the UKGC published a list of example promotions showing which would be allowed and which would breach the rules.
Below are several key examples relevant to bingo players and operators:
| Bonus Offer | Compliant? | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Spend £5 on bingo and get 10 bingo tickets | ✅ Yes | Both the qualifying activity and the reward are within the bingo product category. |
| Bet £5 on sports to get 10 free bingo tickets | ❌ No | This mixes sports betting and bingo so the reward is from a different gambling product. |
| Log in to play a free game offering a chance to win free bets or free spins | ❌ No | Multiple product types are included in the prize pool. |
| Deposit £10 and get £10 bonus credit to use on bingo, casino or betting — your choice | ✅ Yes | The player has full control over where to use the bonus as the offer does not restrict product type. |
| Play a daily game offering a chance to win 5 free bingo tickets or £5 free bet | ❌ No | Mixed product reward so not permitted. |
Operators are still allowed to ask users to qualify through one product, as long as the reward is completely unrestricted.
What This Means for Bingo Bonuses
Many of the most popular offers from top bingo sites, including prize wheels, daily games, and mixed-category rewards, will need to be restructured ahead of January 2026.
Bingo players should expect to see a greater focus on single-product rewards, such as:
- Deposit and get bonus bingo tickets
- Spend and get cashback on bingo only
- Loyalty rewards structured within the bingo vertical
Players looking for the best new offers post-January should keep an eye on our guide to the best bingo sites and latest best bingo bonuses, where we’ll be tracking how sites adapt.
Where To Find Bingo Bonuses in 2026
With the rule changes coming into effect on 19 January, bingo operators are already updating their offers to stay compliant.
You’ll find the best, most up-to-date promos in our expert picks for:
Bookmark those pages to stay ahead of the curve as the landscape evolves in 2026.
