TLDR
- UK Gambling Commission is assessing crypto payments for licensed betting and casino platforms.
- Research found “crypto” is a top search term leading UK users to unlicensed gambling sites.
- The move links to UK cryptoasset rules that would expand FCA oversight from October 2027.
- Operators may need authorization under the Financial Services and Markets Act framework.
The UK could move closer to allowing cryptocurrency payments on licensed betting and casino platforms. The Gambling Commission says it is exploring how crypto could fit within the regulated gambling system.
The review follows evidence of growing consumer demand, and it comes as the UK builds wider rules for digital assets. Regulators say crypto-related searches are also directing some British players to unlicensed sites.
Regulator explores a path for crypto inside licensed gambling
The Gambling Commission’s Executive Director, Tim Miller, said the regulator wants to examine a “potential path forward” for crypto payments. He spoke at the Betting and Gaming Council’s Annual General Meeting.
Miller said consumer demand is rising, and the Commission is now doing early-stage work. He also pointed to research on how UK players find illegal operators through online searches.
The Commission said its findings show “crypto” is “one of the two biggest searches” that can lead British gamblers to unlicensed sites. Officials link that pattern to the growth of offshore platforms that sit outside UK controls.
The Commission’s approach is to consider bringing crypto use into the regulated market, rather than leaving it outside. Any future change would be designed to work with existing rules for licensed operators.
Illegal market searches drive part of the policy focus
Regulators say crypto is already influencing gambling behaviour, and it is visible in search trends. The Commission reported that “crypto” ranks among the top search terms connected to unlicensed gambling traffic.
That creates a challenge for enforcement, because search-led discovery can bypass licensed brands. It also raises questions about consumer protections when payments and payouts sit beyond UK oversight.
Officials are considering whether a regulated crypto option could reduce demand for illegal sites. The goal would be to keep more gambling activity within the licensed sector, where operators must meet UK standards.
The Commission has not announced any approval timeline, and it has not set out permitted tokens or payment models. It has also not said whether crypto would be allowed for deposits only, or for withdrawals too.
FCA-linked crypto rules could shape what gambling firms must do
The Gambling Commission’s work sits alongside the UK’s wider crypto policy process. The UK government laid the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025 before Parliament in December.
If approved, the rules would bring cryptoassets under the Financial Conduct Authority’s remit. The government has said a new regulatory regime is expected to take effect in October 2027.
Miller said that if crypto payments were allowed for licensed gambling, firms would likely need to meet the standards applied to regulated crypto activity. That could mean authorization under the Financial Services and Markets Act framework.
New rules are expected to roll out through 2026 to 2027, and operators would need to align with them. The Commission says it is assessing how a crypto payment route could operate within those guardrails.
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