Setting Deposit Limits for Your Betting Accounts
Keeping your gambling hobby under control is always a good idea. After all, betting on sports, casino games, or whatever takes your fancy is supposed to be fun, not something which negatively affects your mood or financial well-being.
Nevertheless, it can be all too easy to spend more than you intended. Making sound financial decisions in the heat of the moment can lead to unintended consequences. It is far better to plan your betting budget and stick to it.
To coincide with Safer Gambling Week 2024, we take a closer look at Deposit Limits, and how they can be used to keep gambling fun.
What Are Deposit Limits?
As part of an increased focus on responsible gambling, all bookmakers allow you to set deposit limits on your account. As the name suggests, this tool restricts the amount you can deposit in your account over a certain period – usually daily, weekly, or monthly.
When opening a new betting account, you will be asked to set your deposit limits as part of the registration process. However, you do not need to complete this task straight away.
If you skip the deposit limit process at this stage, your limits will usually be set to a generic amount. However, you can alter these amounts at any time by heading to the “Gambling Controls”, “Safer Gambling”, or “My Account” section of the site.
Cooling Off Periods
When setting your deposit limits, we recommend taking a little time to determine the maximum amount you are willing to spend in a day, week, month, or year. Err on the side of caution and ensure your chosen limits will not place you in financial difficulty.
One thing to note is that your selected limits are not set in stone. You may alter them at any time; perhaps you like to bet a little more at the biggest sporting events, e.g., the Cheltenham Festival or an International football tournament and would like to adjust your limits accordingly. Simply head to the relevant area of the site and make the desired alterations. However, be aware that most betting sites enforce a Cooling Off Period; a reduction in your limit will usually apply immediately, but any increase will only take effect after the listed Cooling Off Period (usually 24 hours).
Net Deposit Limits
Rather than following the rigid deposit limit system explained above, some bookmakers use Net Deposit Limits.
Net Deposit Limits avoid a potentially frustrating element of the Deposit Limit tool. Say, for example, that you have set a Daily Deposit Limit of £20. You log in, deposit £20, and place a £20 bet on a 5/1 winner. Happy days. You then withdraw your £120 balance and consider what to buy with your winnings. However, you then remember that there are additional bets you would like to place later in the day. Unfortunately, you have already reached your daily deposit limit and, with the 24-hour cooling-off period in place, you will miss out on these wagers, even though you are £100 in profit for the day.
Under Net Deposit rules, you are allowed to deposit your set limit PLUS any amount you have won in the specified period. In the above example, you would be free to redeposit £120 should you wish – your £20 deposit limit + the £100 profit from your 5/1 winner.
Deposit Limits at the Leading Bookmakers
All bookmakers, big and small, must provide the deposit limit tool to UK customers. As a guide as to what you can expect, the deposit limit process at four of the biggest names is as follows:
- William Hill - Offer Daily, Weekly, and Monthly deposit limits and use the Net Deposit limit rules
- Ladbrokes - Follow standard deposit limit rules and offer periods of 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month
- Betfred - Follow standard deposit limit rules and offer periods of 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days
- bet365 - Follow standard deposit limit rules and offer periods of 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days
For all of the above, any requested increase in limit will not take effect until 24 hours have passed.
Additional Responsible Gambling Tools
In addition to the above, many leading UK betting sites offer additional tools, including:
- Max Stakes Limits - A great option for slots fans, this tool limits the amount you can stake on a single spin
- Deposit Curfews - Do you find yourself vulnerable to making additional deposits at specific times, e.g., in the evening or at the weekend? Setting a deposit curfew will prevent you from making deposits during these times
With so many tools available, modern-day punters have everything they need to stay safe. So remember, gamble responsibly and keep it fun.
Top 20 Betting Offers
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18+ | New players only. Opt-in. Min deposit is £20. Offer: Place a £20 sports cash bet at minimum odds of 3/4 (1.75) or higher and receive a £20 Free Bet. Free bet credited upon settlement of all qualifying bets. Free Bet can be redeemed on selected sports & markets and used on single or accumulator bets (min. 3 selections). Free Bet must be used at minimum odds of 4/5 (1.80). Free Bet stake is not returned with winnings. Winnings are credited as withdrawable cash. Maximum odds of 10.00 may apply. Free Bet must be used within 7 days of being credited. Affordability checks may apply. Full terms apply. | BeGambleAware.org. |
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18+. New customers only. Opt in required. Minimum bet of £20 on any selections. Min odds of evens (2.00). Pre-game only. Free bet awarded upon settlement. Free bet split into 4 x £5. Free bet on accumulators only. Free bet expiry 24 hours. Other free bet terms apply. Maximum pay-outs apply. GamCare.org.uk | UK only. Full T&Cs apply. #ad |
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New customers. Bet £40+ at odds 2.0 (evens) or greater, with code BET40GET20, get 2×£10 Free Bets. Free Bets must be placed at min odds 4/1 (5.0) or greater, paid after settlement and 24h later, expire in 24h. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org |
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New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. |
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18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet up to £40 (min. £20) via mobile or app on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
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New customers only. Applies to the 1st deposit using code WELCOME7. Min deposit £20. Min qualifying bet £20 at odds 1/1 (2.0). Cash‑out not permitted. Bonus Bets issued as 1×£7 BB (any sport excl. Virtuals), followed by 1×£7 BB (Horse Racing, SP/EW excluded) and 1×£7 BB (Football ACCA, min 4 selections, min odds 4.0). Bonus Bet stake not returned. Bonus Bets valid 5 days from credit. Max winnings £500 / £500 / £100 per Bonus Bet. One per customer. General T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | 18+ |
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New customers online only. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. Bet a min £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) across sports or racing within 7 days of registration. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit, £/€10 Free Sports Bet and 2 x £/€5 Bet Builder within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to bet slip. Voided/non-runner bets will not qualify; subsequent bet will be qualifying bet. 7-day expiry. 18+. One per customer. Selected customers only. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply. |
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T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. |
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18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
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New customers only. Min £20 bet at odds 2.00+. Max reward: One £10 Free Bet and two £5 Combo Free Bets. £10 Free Bet min odds 1/1 (2.00). £5 Combo Free Bets min odds 2/1 (3.0). Free Bets expire 7 days after credit. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
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New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. |
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*New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
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New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
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Place a £10 fixed odds Outright winner cash bet on a nation to win the World Cup. Once the bet is placed, receive 1 x free £10 fixed odds bet, 1 x free £10 football Total Goals spread bet and 1 x free £10 football Supremacy spread bet. Then receive a further free £10 fixed odds bet for every match your chosen nation wins during the World Cup, to a maximum of 7 wins. Offer expires at 9pm on Tues 23rd June 2026. 18+ www.gambleaware.org. |
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18+ | GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Opt in. Deposit & Stake £10 on slots to get 100 x £0.20 Free Spins on Sweet Bonanza with 10x wagering on free spins. Debit card or instant bank transfer only. Claim within 7 days. Spins expire within 48 hours. Geographical restrictions and T&Cs apply. #AD |
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Offer valid for new Betgoodwin customers aged 18 years and over. Min qualifying stake £10 at odds of 6/4+. Excludes horse & greyhound racing. Min 4 legs at odds of 2/5+ for £10 free acca. Full Terms apply. begambleaware |
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18+| GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Opt in. Deposit and Bet £10+ on sports at min odds of 2.0+ (1/1) for £30 in Free Bets within 7 days. Debit cards or instant bank transfers only. Free bets expire within 7 days of issue. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply.#AD |
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New sportsbook customers only. Place £10 first bet at min odds 1/2 to get £20 Free Bet. Stake not returned. Free Bet valid 7 days, min odds 1/2. Settled bets only. One welcome offer per customer (not with 50% Net Loss Refund). 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
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New customers only. Min £20 bet at odds 2.00+. Max reward: One £10 Free Bet and two £5 Combo Free Bets. £10 Free Bet min odds 1/1 (2.00). £5 Combo Free Bets min odds 2/1 (3.0). Free Bets expire 7 days after credit. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
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#AD | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C's apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 - Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly! |
