On 1 April 2026 the UK rate of Remote Gaming Duty, the tax charged on operators’ online casino profits, rose from 21% to 40%, according to trade coverage of the Budget changes. The duty is paid by operators, not by players, so a player does not see it as a charge. It can, however, influence how operators run their products.
What is known
- The duty applies to gaming profit from online casino products, which includes slots.
- The change took effect on 1 April 2026.
- The rate applies to the operator’s profit, not to a player’s stake or winnings.
What is not known
Commentators have suggested that operators may respond by reducing promotional spending, tightening bonus terms, or changing which games they feature. These are expectations, not announced facts, and they will differ between operators. We make no claim about changes to the RTP of any game: Pragmatic Play publishes the certified RTP profiles for Sweet Bonanza and the operator selects among them, so the figure that matters is the one shown in the game’s information screen at the casino you use.
Other UK rules that already apply to slots
The UK has separate rules that change how slots are played. In 2025 the Gambling Commission introduced online slot stake limits: £5 per spin for adults and a lower £2 limit for players aged 18 to 24. Features such as bonus buy and ante bet are not offered to UK players in the Sweet Bonanza versions, and the 2500 game lists a UK stake range of 0.20 to 5. If you play in the UK, the maximum stake is limited at the game level regardless of the operator’s tax position.
The practical advice does not change. Look at the RTP in the game’s information screen, set a deposit and time limit before you start, and treat the maximum win as a very rare outcome rather than a target. For the specifications of each version, see the versions page.