Finding Out Why Win and Stake Limits Exist in Casino Games

by James Gibson, 1 October 2025

Spending real money on casino games can be a lot of fun. Those who want to gamble large sums of money might be surprised to learn that bet limits, as well as limits on winnings, are often in place.

Explaining the existence of bet and win limits. © GregMontani, Pixabay

Betting and Win Limits in Casino Games

You want to play casino games and have saved up some money. After joining an online casino, you find a game and want to place a particularly large bet since you’re feeling lucky.

But there’s a problem: your bet is too big. The game you’re keen to play has bet limits in place. If you want to play, you have no choice but to reduce the size of your wager.

This is very common in casino games these days, especially online. When your bet is limited, so are your potential winnings, since they are a multiple of your bet size.

The UKGC’s Recent Slots Stake Limits

The UKGC is constantly looking for ways to protect casino game players. The organisation actively promotes safe, responsible gambling and regularly puts new rules and restrictions in place to prevent gambling-related problems.

In early 2025, the UKGC introduced new limits on bet sizes in slot games. As of 9 April, those aged 25 and above can’t bet more than £5 on a single spin of a slot.

Since May 21, players aged 18-24 have had an even lower bet size limit of just £2 to stick to. The UKGC established both of these limits to prevent people from spending too much money on slots.

Notably, the casino limits are only for slots and don’t apply to table and live dealer games. Both of these can have maximum bet sizes much greater than £5. Slots have been targeted because of their fast, potentially addictive gameplay.

Limits in Other Casino Games

The UKGC hasn’t targeted table or live dealer games because these aren’t thought to be as likely to cause issues. Both game types last longer and are nowhere near as fast-paced as slots can be.

Having said that, there are still restrictions on how much you can bet in these games. The available bet sizes for online games vary from one game to the next. The developer and casino operator determine the options.

As for real money games, they also limit how much you can bet, though they tend to be higher. This is to cater to high rollers, i.e., players with a large budget.

You can still place large bets when playing table and live dealer games online. However, bet limits are usually lower than real-life casino games because of stricter online gambling rules and regulations.

Key Reasons Behind Limits on Bet Sizes

As a regulatory body, the UKGC protects players and encourages people to gamble responsibly. It sets up limits to prevent people from spending too much money on gambling, which can cause debt and other financial issues.

Someone who gets into money trouble through gambling can also find themselves experiencing other problems. These can include, but are not limited to, poor mental health, changes in behaviour and mood, relationship breakdowns, stress and anxiety.

Many people who gamble for real money don’t have the motivation to devise a bet limit and stick to it. A lot of players don’t feel the need to do this and don’t understand the importance of gambling in moderation.

By having bet limits, casinos help people stay in control of their spending. This is beneficial for players but also the casino, as it looks bad on the casino if players develop gambling-related problems.

It’s also worth mentioning the winnings. Part of why bet sizes are capped is because winnings need to be restricted too. If they weren’t, a casino might have to pay out more than it can afford.

Bet limits regulate the amount of money you can win, which benefits the casino as it limits how much it has to pay out. Smaller operators especially don’t have the funds to pay large cash prizes.

It’s common for casinos to stagger large payments, e.g. progressive jackpot winnings. If you’re lucky enough to win, you might receive your winnings in instalments instead of one lump sum.

This might not be your ideal way of getting paid, but it’s suitable for the casino and helps it stay in business. After all, real-life casinos and online ones need to generate money to keep operating.

They don’t always have large cash reserves. Paying in instalments is a practical alternative that keeps the casino’s finances in check while ensuring the winner still receives their money.

Finding Bet and Win Limits in Casino Games

When you load an online casino game, you can adjust the bet size and see the options in full before you start playing. The paytable, which explains the rules and features, should mention the maximum win amount.

This is usually a multiple of your bet, e.g. 5,000x. If the maximum bet is £5, the biggest possible win for a single turn would be £25,000.

In some games, the maximum win is a set amount of money. It could be £50,000, for example. If you happen to go over this amount in a single turn, your win would then be capped to the maximum.

Some online slots allow you to win the top payout in the free spins round. Should your free spins winnings exceed this, the round ends and you’re paid the maximum and nothing more.

As for real-life casino games, the bet limits vary depending on where you’re at and what you’re playing. It’s always a good idea to find out what the limits are before you start gaming.

At brick-and-mortar casinos, games usually follow the traditional payout rates, so it can be easy to work out how much you can win. It’s worth seeing if any casino win limits are in place, as these can affect your payout.

Casino Sites with the Best Payouts

When gambling for real money, the odds are against you. There’s no guarantee you’ll win; you’re more likely to make a loss than a profit. Still, many people enjoy trying their luck on casino games.

What many online gamblers do is they search for the best casino payouts. These are sites that have high-paying games as well as high limits on bet sizes and winnings.

In other words, they can pay out greater sums of money than other online casinos. If you’re a high-stakes player and want to place large bets, you should choose a site known for giving high payouts.