Autoplay
Autoplay is a slot setting that spins the reels automatically for a chosen number of rounds, so the player does not have to press spin each time. It has not been allowed on online slots offered in Great Britain since 31 October 2021, and from 17 January 2025 the ban extended to other online casino games.
By the Best Slots UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Autoplay ran a set number of spins in a row without a press between them.
- UK rules have required each slot spin to be started individually since 31 October 2021.
- Other online casino games lost autoplay from 17 January 2025.
- Account tools such as deposit limits and reality checks do the job autoplay’s stop settings once claimed to do.
- Status in GB
- Not permitted on online slots
- Slots ban from
- 31 October 2021
- Other casino games
- Banned from 17 January 2025
- Rule
- Each game cycle committed individually
- Still seen
- On versions for other markets
Autoplay meaning: what the button did
Before the UK rules changed, most online slots had an ‘Auto’ button beside the spin control. Pressing it opened a small panel where you chose how many spins to run, often in steps such as 10, 25, 50, 100 or more, and the game then played them back to back at your current total bet. You could watch, or look away. The spins continued until the count ran out or one of the stop conditions you had set was met.
Autoplay did not change the odds of any spin. Every result was still decided by the RNG in exactly the same way as a manual spin. What it changed was the rhythm of play, by removing the moment between spins where you decide whether to carry on.
The stop settings autoplay used to offer
To make autoplay look controlled, games added optional stop conditions. They sound sensible, but they were set inside one game, at one moment, and could be changed or cleared with a couple of taps. The UK approach since 2021 has been to remove autoplay and rely on account-level tools that apply everywhere on the site.
| Old autoplay setting | What it did | UK tool that covers similar ground |
|---|---|---|
| Number of spins | Ran 10, 50, 100 or more spins in a row | None needed: each spin is pressed by you |
| Stop if balance falls by | Halted the run after a chosen loss | Loss limit on your account |
| Stop if balance rises by | Halted the run after a chosen gain | Your own stop point, tracked on the net position display |
| Stop on a single win above | Halted after one large win | No equivalent; each win is seen as it lands |
| Stop when a feature triggers | Paused for the bonus round | Features now start only from a spin you pressed |
The UK autoplay ban and what it says
The Gambling Commission’s remote technical standards, updated in 2021, state that the gambling system must require a customer to commit to each game cycle individually, and that providing autoplay for slots is not permitted. The change took effect on 31 October 2021, as part of the same package that set a 2.5-second minimum spin speed and removed turbo spins and slam stops.
On 17 January 2025 the same approach was applied to other online casino games such as roulette and blackjack: no autoplay, no turbo, and at least five seconds per round. Today an autoplay button on any online casino game offered to you in Great Britain suggests the site is not following UK rules.
The thinking behind the ban is set out in our answer to why there is no autoplay on UK slots, and the full package is described in UK slot game design rules.
An autoplay example in pounds
Picture a 100-spin autoplay run at 50p. That is £50 committed with one press. On a 96% RTP game the average cost of those 100 spins is about £2, but on a high variance game a run of 100 can easily lose most of the £50, because long stretches of dead spins are normal. With autoplay, that whole sequence could happen without a single decision point. With manual spins, there are 100 separate moments in which to stop.
- Decide your budget for the session before you open a game.
- Set a deposit limit or loss limit on the account so the cap applies across every slot.
- Turn on a reality check so a reminder appears at intervals you choose.
- Glance at the net position and session timer between spins rather than at the balance alone.
Terms related to autoplay
See reality check, net position display and deposit limit, or browse the full slot glossary.
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
Is autoplay banned on UK online slots?
Yes, autoplay has not been permitted on online slots offered in Great Britain since 31 October 2021. The Gambling Commission’s technical standards require every game cycle to be started individually by the customer, so each spin needs its own press. The rule applies to every UKGC-licensed operator and to the game versions they offer. Since 17 January 2025 the same ban covers other online casino games too. Our guide to UK slot rules summarises this and the other game design changes.
Why was autoplay removed from UK slots?
Autoplay was removed because it took away the natural pause between spins in which a player decides whether to continue. Evidence considered by the Gambling Commission in the consultation behind the 2021 rules suggested that people using autoplay could lose track of time and spending, and might play for longer than intended. Requiring a press for each spin restores that decision point, without changing the odds of any game. The background is covered in our answer to why there is no autoplay on UK slots.
Can I hold down the spin button to play continuously?
On UK-licensed slots, each game cycle must be committed individually, so features that replicate autoplay through a held button are not in keeping with the rules. Each spin also has to take at least 2.5 seconds before the next can start, so even rapid pressing cannot speed things up beyond that. How a game responds to a held button depends on its UK build, so check the help screen. Our spin speed entry explains the minimum cycle time.
Does autoplay change the odds or RTP of a slot?
No, autoplay never changed the odds or the RTP. Each automatic spin used the same random number generator and the same maths as a manual spin. The difference was purely about pace and attention: autoplay let many spins pass without a decision. Removing it does not make any spin more or less likely to win. If you want to understand what does determine a slot’s long-run return, see our guide to slot RTP explained.
Why do some slot videos still show an autoplay button?
Many videos are recorded on versions of games made for markets outside Great Britain, where autoplay, turbo and bonus buys may still be allowed. Studio demo pages and international casino sites can also show the global build. The UK version of the same game has the autoplay button removed. Seeing autoplay offered to you on a site while in Britain is a reason to check whether the operator is licensed. Our guide on how to spot unlicensed slot sites explains what else to look for.
What can I use instead of autoplay’s loss limit setting?
Use the safer gambling tools on your casino account, which apply across all games rather than inside one slot. A deposit limit caps what you can add over a day, week or month, and a loss limit, where offered, caps net losses over a period. A reality check shows a reminder of time and spending at an interval you choose. These are harder to override in the moment than an autoplay setting was. Our guide on how to set deposit limits walks through the steps.
Does the autoplay ban apply to online roulette and blackjack?
Yes, since 17 January 2025 the ban on autoplay has extended to other online casino games offered in Great Britain, including roulette and blackjack. Those games also need at least five seconds per round and cannot offer turbo modes. The aim is the same as for slots: slower, more deliberate play, with every round chosen by you rather than run in a loop. Our overview of UK slot rule changes in 2026 puts these changes in context with the newer bonus rules.