The American Gaming Association on April 8 released the 2026 update to its Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct — the most substantive revision in five years. The new standards, which AGA member operators have committed to implementing by Q4 2026, include three notable changes that will reshape the customer experience at every major US sportsbook.
What's changing
1. Default deposit limits
New customers will receive a default monthly deposit limit set at sign-up — the AGA recommends a baseline of $1,000/month, though individual operators may set lower defaults. Customers can raise the limit but only after a 24-hour cooling-off period and an affordability acknowledgement.
2. Affordability prompts
Operators will be required to surface "spend awareness" prompts when a customer crosses certain thresholds — typically when monthly deposits exceed $2,500, or when deposits exceed a preset percentage of the customer's deposit history. The prompt does not block the deposit; it surfaces consumer-protection resources and suggests a self-set limit.
3. Advertising guardrails
The 2026 code formalizes restrictions on celebrity endorsements aimed at college audiences, prohibits "risk-free bet" language entirely (already removed from most major operators), and requires the responsible-gambling phone number / chat link to be visible on every sportsbook advertising creative.
Who's signing on
All major US operators have publicly committed to the 2026 code: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet. Compliance is voluntary at the federal level but is increasingly mirrored in state regulations — Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia have already cited the AGA code in their 2025-26 regulatory updates.
What it means for bettors
For most users, the visible change will be (1) a default deposit limit at sign-up that you may not have noticed before, and (2) more frequent prompts about responsible-gambling tools when activity spikes. Neither is a hard block. The infrastructure of voluntary self-exclusion (statewide programs, operator-level cool-off, and the national-level support resources we maintain) remains the same.
If betting stops being fun
BettingOnline.org publishes free resources for anyone who wants help managing their gambling — including the national 1-800-GAMBLER hotline, state-level self-exclusion program links, and partner organizations like the National Council on Problem Gambling. We rank operators in part on the strength of their responsible-gambling tooling — see our operator reviews for breakdowns by book.
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