Affordability checks on casino apps
Affordability checks on casino apps are reviews a UK-licensed operator carries out to judge whether your gambling spend looks sustainable. Most happen in the background using public records once your net deposits pass £150 in 30 days; a minority lead to a request for payslips or bank statements. Here is how the checks work, what triggers them and how to respond from your phone.
By the Best Casino Apps UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Since 28 February 2025, operators must run a light-touch financial vulnerability check when net deposits pass £150 in a rolling 30 days.
- Those checks use publicly available data, and the Gambling Commission says they don’t affect your credit rating.
- Operators can also ask for documents such as bank statements or payslips under their own risk policies.
- You can upload documents straight from your phone, usually as a PDF from your banking app or a clear photo.
- A check is about protecting you; setting your own deposit limit is the simplest way to stay well within your means.
- Light-touch check threshold
- £150 net deposits in 30 days
- In force since
- 28 February 2025 (£500 from 30 August 2024)
- Data used
- Publicly available records
- Credit score impact
- None, according to the Commission
- Possible documents
- Bank statements, payslips, P60
- Who sets extra checks
- Each operator’s risk policy
What affordability checks on casino apps are
An affordability check is a casino’s assessment of whether the money you are putting in is likely to be within your means. Licensed operators in Great Britain have a duty to identify customers who may be at risk of harm, and financial strain is one of the clearest signs. The check doesn’t judge whether gambling is a good use of your money; it looks for signals that it may be causing problems.
Two kinds of check now run side by side. The first is a set of financial vulnerability checks required by Gambling Commission rules at a fixed threshold. The second is the operator’s own risk-based review, which can happen at any level of play if something prompts it. Both apply equally in a casino app and on the website, because they are attached to your account rather than the device.
| Check | What triggers it | What you notice |
|---|---|---|
| Financial vulnerability check | Net deposits over £150 in a rolling 30 days | Usually nothing; it uses public records |
| Operator risk review | Patterns in play, spend or behaviour | Possibly a message, a call or a limit |
| Document request | Check results or operator policy | A request to upload statements or payslips |
| Source of funds check | Anti-money laundering rules | Questions about where money comes from |
The UK rules behind affordability checks
The Commission introduced financial vulnerability checks on 30 August 2024 at a threshold of £500 net deposits a month, then lowered it to £150 net deposits in a rolling 30-day period from 28 February 2025. At that point, the operator must check publicly available information for signs of financial vulnerability, such as a recent bankruptcy or county court judgment. The Commission said the checks wouldn’t use details such as your postcode or job title, and that they wouldn’t affect your credit rating.
Fuller financial risk assessments, designed to look at a customer’s financial situation in more depth using data shared by credit reference agencies, were tested in a pilot. The Commission has piloted these checks, and the timetable for wider use is published on its website. Because thresholds and dates are being phased in, check the Commission’s website for the current position. Our roundup of UK casino app rule changes in 2026 tracks what has started.
Net deposits means money deposited minus money withdrawn. Deposit £200 and withdraw £60 in the same 30 days, and your net deposits are £140, below the £150 line.
When the £150 threshold is reached: worked examples
Because the threshold is rolling, it looks back over the previous 30 days from each day, not a calendar month. These examples show how it adds up.
| Player | Deposits | Withdrawals | Net deposits | Threshold passed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Three deposits of £40 (£120) | £0 | £120 | No |
| B | Four deposits of £50 (£200) | £80 | £120 | No |
| C | Two deposits of £100 (£200) | £20 | £180 | Yes |
| D | £500 in one deposit | £400 | £100 | No |
Passing the threshold isn’t a sign of wrongdoing, and most people never hear anything about it. The operator runs the check, finds nothing of concern and you carry on. The threshold applies per operator, so two brands run by different companies each make their own assessment.
What happens during and after a check
What follows depends on what the operator finds and its own policies. Typical results are:
- No action. The check finds no concerns and nothing changes in the app.
- A safer gambling message. You might see an in-app pop-up or get an email or call asking how your play is going and pointing to tools.
- A request for information. The app asks you to upload documents or answer questions about income and outgoings.
- A limit set by the operator. The casino may cap deposits until it has more information, or permanently if it judges the spend to be unaffordable.
- Account restriction. Until documents arrive, deposits or play may be paused. Our page on an account locked in a casino app explains the common messages.
An operator’s decision to limit your account is a protective measure, not a penalty, and it applies only to that operator.
Documents a casino app may ask for
If the operator needs more than public records, it will tell you what it wants. Common requests are:
| Document | What it shows | Tips for a phone upload |
|---|---|---|
| Recent bank statements | Income and regular outgoings | Download the PDF from your banking app |
| Payslips | Regular earnings | Use the PDF from your payroll portal or a flat, well-lit photo |
| P60 or tax return | Annual income | Photograph the whole page with all corners visible |
| Pension or benefits letter | Regular income | Make sure your name and the date are readable |
| Savings or investment statement | Funds available | Show the account holder name |
Statements usually need to show your name, the account details and the relevant period. If you are unsure what is acceptable, ask before uploading, and ask whether you can hide unrelated transactions. The same upload screen is used for verification documents; our help page on a casino app asking for documents covers rejected uploads.
How to respond to an affordability check on your phone
- Read the message carefully. Note exactly which documents are requested and any deadline.
- Check it’s genuine: open the casino app directly rather than tapping a link in a text or email, and look for the same request in your account or inbox.
- Download the documents. In most UK banking apps, statements are under the account’s menu as a PDF; save it to Files on iPhone or to Downloads on Android.
- In the casino app, go to your account, then Verification, Documents or Upload, and choose the document type.
- Pick the PDF from Files or Downloads, or take a photo with the camera button. Keep all four corners in frame and avoid glare.
- Submit, then note the date. Reply through live chat or email if the app asks for extra information.
- Wait for confirmation before depositing again. If it takes longer than the operator suggested, ask support for an update.
Privacy and credit files: what affordability checks don’t do
Financial vulnerability checks use public data and, according to the Commission, don’t affect your credit rating. Where an operator uses a credit reference agency for identity or other checks, it is normally a ‘soft’ search, which you can see on your own credit file but lenders can’t. Our guide to casino apps and your credit file explains the difference, and gambling transactions and mortgage applications covers what lenders look at instead.
Documents you upload are personal data. The casino must keep them secure and use them only for the stated purposes, and it may be required to keep them for several years under anti-money laundering rules. Our guide to casino apps and your personal data explains your rights.
If you disagree with a limit or can’t provide documents
Operators make their own decisions about risk, and a casino isn’t obliged to keep accepting deposits it isn’t comfortable with. If you think a decision is based on wrong information, explain why to support in writing and offer evidence. If you would rather not share documents, say so. The operator may then keep or lower limits, or close the account, but your remaining balance should normally be returned to you in line with its terms.
If you believe the casino has acted unfairly, use its formal complaints process; how to complain about a casino app explains the stages, including independent dispute resolution.
Affordability checks on iPhone vs Android
The checks themselves are identical on every device, because they run on your account. The practical differences are about handling files:
- iPhone: documents are saved to the Files app. If a casino app won’t open Files, upload through the mobile website in Safari instead.
- Android: files usually land in Downloads. Some manufacturer file managers hide PDFs in a separate Documents folder, so use the search bar in the file picker.
- Both: a phone that compresses photos heavily can make text unreadable. Upload the PDF where you can, and zoom in on the photo before submitting.
Staying comfortably within your means
The most effective affordability check is the one you run yourself. Decide what you can spend on entertainment each month after bills, and set a deposit limit at that level in the app. Limits take effect at once when you lower them, while increases usually have a cooling-off delay. Our casino app limits guide shows where to find the setting, and setting a gambling budget on your phone covers banking app tools too.
If a check has made you think about how much you spend, that is worth acting on. The National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is free and open 24 hours a day, and our directory of gambling support services lists GamCare, GAMSTOP and NHS clinics.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What triggers an affordability check on a casino app?
The main fixed trigger is net deposits of more than £150 in a rolling 30-day period with one operator, which requires a light-touch financial vulnerability check using public records. Operators can also review your account at any level if they notice patterns that may signal harm, such as rapid deposit increases or play late at night. Fuller financial risk assessments for higher spending have been piloted; check the Commission's site for the current position. The check applies to your account, so it is the same in the app and on the website. Our affordability check glossary entry gives a short definition.
Do affordability checks affect my credit score?
The Gambling Commission has said its financial vulnerability checks and the financial risk assessment pilot don’t affect credit ratings. The light-touch checks rely on publicly available information such as insolvency records. Where an operator uses a credit reference agency, it is normally a soft search, which appears only on your own view of your file, not to lenders. Your bank statements, however, will show gambling transactions, which some lenders review. Our guide to casino apps and your credit file explains what lenders can and can’t see.
Why is a casino app asking for my bank statements?
A casino may ask for bank statements to understand whether your gambling spend is affordable, or to check where your money comes from under anti-money laundering rules. The request usually follows a background check, a change in your play or a large deposit. Statements should show your name, the account and the relevant period. You can ask whether unrelated transactions may be hidden. Open the app directly to upload, rather than tapping links in messages. Our page on a casino app asking for documents covers rejected uploads and timings.
What is the £150 rule for online gambling?
Since 28 February 2025, licensed online operators in Great Britain must carry out a financial vulnerability check when a customer’s net deposits exceed £150 in a rolling 30 days. Net deposits are deposits minus withdrawals, so someone who deposits £200 and withdraws £60 is at £140. The check uses public data to look for signs such as bankruptcy or county court judgments. It isn’t a spending cap, and most customers never notice it. The rule started at £500 in August 2024. Our UK casino app rules guide covers related changes.
Can I refuse an affordability check?
You can decline to provide documents, but the operator can then decide how to manage the risk, which may mean keeping or lowering deposit limits, restricting play or closing the account. The background check on public records doesn’t need your input and is required by the Commission. If you choose not to share documents, ask support how any remaining balance will be returned under the terms. Many people prefer to set a firm deposit limit themselves instead; see our casino app limits guide.
How long does an affordability check take?
The background check at the £150 threshold is usually automatic and you won’t notice it. If documents are requested, the time depends on how quickly you upload them and how busy the operator’s team is. Many reviews are completed within a few days of receiving clear documents, but operators rarely publish a fixed timescale. Deposits or play may be paused in the meantime. Upload PDFs rather than photos where possible, and contact support if you hear nothing after the time quoted. Our verification guide has tips for clean uploads.
Is an affordability check the same as a source of funds check?
No, although they can overlap. An affordability check looks at whether your gambling is sustainable given your finances, to protect you from harm. A source of funds check is an anti-money laundering measure that asks where the money you are depositing comes from, such as salary, savings or an inheritance. Both can involve bank statements, and the same document might satisfy both. Our dedicated guide to source of funds checks on casino apps explains when those are triggered and what evidence works.
Do affordability checks apply across all my casino apps?
Each operator makes its own assessment, so the £150 threshold is measured separately with each company. Brands run by the same operator, such as Coral and Ladbrokes, which are both run by LC International Limited, may look at your accounts together. There is no single national spending database. If you are concerned about total spend across several apps, a bank gambling block or GAMSTOP covers all of them at once. Our page on having more than one casino app discusses keeping track across accounts.