Bingo Bonuses Are Back: What the 2026 Mixed Product Ban Means for UK Players

From 19th January 2026, UK gambling operators can no longer offer mixed-product promotions—meaning bingo sites must offer bingo bonuses, not slots or sports deals in disguise. Wagering requirements are also capped at 10x the bonus amount. By 30th June 2026, deposit limits must be calculated on gross deposits only.

These changes are part of the UKGC's White Paper reforms to make bonuses clearer and reduce cross-sell pressure on players.

2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for UK online gambling, and for UK bingo players like myself, it's bringing some seriously welcome changes. The UKGC is finally cracking down on those confusing mixed-product promotions that have plagued the industry for years, and honestly? It's about time we stopped being treated like fish in a barrel.

A little confession: for years, I actually stopped adding promotions to Glitzy Bingo altogether. It was slot game after slot game after slot game. Sites with "bingo" plastered these offers all over the welcome pages, pushing fishing games and slot machines instead of, you know, actual online bingo. It felt pointless reviewing welcome offers that had nothing to do with the game we all came for. But lately, I've started adding them back in preparation for these changes, and I'm cautiously optimistic.

Now, I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of promotions anyway. I'm one of those players who prefers to tap that opt-out button and skip straight past the big blocking welcome offer screen to get into the games. Just let me play! But the industry absolutely loves their banner blockers, those massive pop-ups demanding you claim something before you can even see the lobby. Here's hoping 2026 brings a bit more respect for bingo players who just want to daub their cards without reeling in a carp first!

Let me break down what's changing and why I'm genuinely excited about it.

The Ban on Mixed-Product Promotions (From 19th January 2026)

New Social Responsibility Code changes mean operators can no longer run promotions that mix different gambling products in a single offer. This is huge news for anyone who's ever felt pushed from one game type to another.

Gone are the days of offers like "Bet £10 on sports, get 50 casino free spins" or "Play bingo to unlock a slots bonus". From now on, each bonus must relate to only one product vertical. If you sign up to a bingo site, your welcome offer should be for bingo. Simple as that.

There's also a new 10x wagering cap on bonuses, meaning wagering requirements are now capped at 10 times the bonus amount. So a £10 bonus can require a maximum of £100 in wagering. This effectively kills off those ridiculous 30x-50x wagering structures that used to blend cash and bonus across different products. No more getting reeled in with promises of bingo fun only to find yourself tangled up in slots wagering!

Deposit Limits Redefined (By 30th June 2026)

The other big change coming in 2026 is the Remote Technical Standards update on financial limits (RTS 12B), which introduces clearer gross deposit limits.

By 30th June 2026, all remote operators must offer deposit limits based purely on the amount you pay in, not net of withdrawals or bonuses. Only this type of limit can be labelled a "deposit limit". These limits must be given equal prominence to other responsible gambling tools, and when limits overlap, the system must enforce whichever is tightest.

This doesn't change how your wallet balance works day to day, but it stops operators from changing the rules with what "deposit limit" actually means.

What This Actually Changes for Players

For regular UK players, these rules don't just tidy up T&Cs; they change how you're pushed around sites.

• More honest welcome offers. If you join a bingo-branded site, the main welcome deal should now be clearly bingo-focused, instead of being a slots promotion in disguise or a sports-led offer with tiny bingo add-ons. No more bait and switch!
• Less cross-sell pressure. Cross-product ladders (play X on casino to unlock Y on bingo, or vice versa) are exactly the kind of "mixed" offers the UKGC is targeting, so you should see far fewer promos trying to drag you from low-volatility bingo into high-volatility slots or tables. They can't keep carping on at us to play something we didn't sign up for!
• Simpler wagering maths. With a 10x cap and single-product bonuses, it's much easier to work out if a deal is worth it. A £20 bingo bonus with 10x wagering is £200 of stake, full stop, not £20 on bingo plus £580 on slots at a different RTP. Finally, we can do the maths without needing a degree in creative accounting.

How Operators Might Respond (And What to Watch For)

Operators will pivot their marketing, and that's worth calling out for you lovely lot.

• More "pure" vertical brands. Expect some brands to lean harder into one identity (pure bingo, pure slots, pure sports) so they can keep their headline offer tightly within one product without losing appeal. This is music to my ears, give me a bingo site that's actually about bingo!
• Tighter bonus values, more recurring offers. With wagering caps and cross-sell restrictions, some sites are likely to trim headline bonus sizes, but increase reloads, free rooms, or cashback-style promos to keep value flowing without breaching the new rules. Swings and roundabouts, but at least it'll be transparent.
• UX dark patterns still an issue. Here's the catch (pun absolutely intended): the rules stop mixed-product bonuses, but they don't magically remove nudges like "recommended" tabs or carousels pushing you into slots after you've taken a bingo offer. That's something savvy players still need to watch for in the lobby design rather than the bonus T&Cs. If you don’t like the slots, then don't take the bait!

Your Pre-Claim Checklist

Before you claim anything, double-check:

• Is this bonus for the game I actually want to play?
• Is the wagering clearly stated and 10x or less?
• Does the site try to bounce me straight into a different tab the moment I log in?

If something smells fishy, it probably is. Trust your gut, and if you're like me and just want to skip the offer entirely, make sure there's an opt-out option before you deposit!

Heart Bingo Leads the Way: First to Ditch the Fishing Offer!

And here's the news I've been waiting to share: Heart Bingo is the first site I've spotted making the switch! Starting Monday, 5th January 2026, Heart Bingo will finally be ditching its fishing welcome offer. They're throwing those old offers back in the pond where they belong!

As a bingo player and bingo analyst, I absolutely hate the fishing offers. Now, don't get me wrong—the Big Bass Fishing Bonanza slots from Pragmatic Play are a good game to play, but as a bingo player who wants to play bingo, I do not want to get pushed into slots first. When I see sites with "bingo" in their brand, I expect full focus on bingo. It's that simple. I didn't come here to go fishing!

Their new welcome offer is a proper bingo-focused deal. You can check out the full details and T&Cs on our Heart Bingo page from 5th January 2026. We'll update it with the full terms once the offer goes live.

But this is the first of many. No more fishing offers.. well, for some brands anyway, when it comes to bingo. I'm sure some sites will choose a welcome offer, likely around slots rather than bingo, but I'm hoping this is the first of many for me to add to Glitzy Bingo. Time to cut bait on those rubbish cross-sell promos!

The Bigger Picture: Part of the White Paper Clean-Up

These 2026 changes don't exist in isolation; they sit alongside other White Paper outcomes, such as the new statutory gambling levy, stronger affordability checks, and technical changes to customer-led tools.

Taken together, they're designed to reduce the worst bonus abuses, make spend caps meaningful, and push operators toward treating bonuses as genuine add-ons to entertainment rather than traps. It's a net positive for players (see what I did there?).

Here at Glitzy Bingo, we'll be tracking which brands are genuinely bingo-first under the new rules, so you don't have to wade through the murky waters yourself.

It's a limited 7-day period, so if you do claim it, be aware of the T&Cs. As for the wagering requirements, I don't have the full terms until the offer goes live—this guide will be updated then to reflect that.

But this is the first of many. No more fishing offers, well, for some brands anyway, when it comes to bingo. I'm sure some sites will likely choose a welcome offer around slots rather than bingo, but I'm hoping this is the first of many for me to add to Glitzy Bingo. Time to cut bait on those rubbish cross-sell promos!

FAQs

What are mixed-product promotions and why are they being banned?

Mixed-product promotions are offers that make you play one type of game to get rewards for another—like playing slots to unlock bingo bonuses, or betting on sports to get casino spins. They're being banned because they push players into games they didn't sign up for. From 19th January 2026, each bonus must be for one game type only. If it says bingo, it should be bingo!

What's the new wagering cap all about?

Wagering requirements are now capped at 10x the bonus amount. So if you get a £10 bonus, you'll only need to wager £100 maximum to clear it. No more 40x or 50x nonsense that had you spinning slots for days just to withdraw a tenner!

Will my account balance change?

Nope! Your wallet will still work the same way—deposits, winnings, and cleared bonus funds all in one place. The changes are about how bonuses are offered and how deposit limits are calculated, not your day-to-day balance.

What's changing with deposit limits?

From June 2026, deposit limits must be based on what you actually pay in—no funny business with netting off withdrawals. If you set a £50 weekly limit, that's £50 of deposits, full stop.

When do these changes come in?

The mixed-product promotion ban starts 19th January 2026. The new deposit limit rules must be in place by 30th June 2026.

Can I still opt out of welcome offers?

That depends on the site—these rules don't force operators to offer an opt-out option, sadly. But here's hoping more sites make it easier for players like me who just want to get straight to the games!

How do I find the latest bingo bonuses under the new rules?

Head to each bingo site's page here on Glitzy Bingo—we're updating them as the new offers roll in. We'll flag which sites have made the switch to proper bingo-focused welcome offers so you can find the best deals without the faff. Keep your eyes peeled!

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