The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission is evaluating whether cryptocurrency could function as a consumer payment option within licensed online gambling, as the country moves to bring crypto activity under a new regulatory regime led by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tim Miller, the commission’s executive director for research and policy, told attendees at the Betting and Gaming Council’s annual general meeting in London that policymakers want to map out “the potential path forward” for cryptoasset payments in Great Britain. He noted that, once the regime starts, regulated crypto activities would require FCA authorization under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The licensing framework is targeted for 2027.
Key takeaways
- The Gambling Commission is actively exploring a formal path to allow crypto payments for licensed gambling in Great Britain, as part of the FCA-regulated regime.
- Any entities conducting regulated crypto activities would need FCA authorization under FSMA once the regime commences.
- The commission ties crypto payments to consumer protection, citing evidence that crypto is among the top searches leading British bettors to illegal sites.
- Even if crypto payments are permitted, this would not automatically subject casinos to full UK regulation, given challenges around customer suitability checks.
- The FCA has published a final consultation with 10 proposals for crypto markets, with the licensing regime slated to go live in October 2027 and an application window expected to open in September 2026.
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Market context: The UK’s approach reflects a broader movement toward regulated crypto services as policymakers weigh consumer protections and AML safeguards amid evolving crypto legislation worldwide. The FCA’s upcoming licensing framework signals tighter oversight that could influence how payment rails, operator compliance, and consumer protections evolve across Europe and beyond.
Why it matters
The potential acceptance of cryptocurrency as a legitimate payment option within licensed gambling could reorder the onboarding experience for players and redefine how operators manage risk. If crypto payments are permitted within a regulated framework, operators would likely have to implement rigorous know-your-customer (KYC) and due-diligence processes to ensure that crypto flows do not bypass existing controls. This shift could also influence the competitive dynamics of online gambling, encouraging platforms to invest in compliance infrastructure to win consumer trust in a landscape that remains under intense regulatory scrutiny.
regulators emphasize consumer protection and the integrity of the market. The commission’s stance reflects a cautious acknowledgement that crypto payments may offer consumer benefits—such as faster settlement options and alternative funding channels—while also raising new questions about identity verification, transaction tracing, and the risk of financial harm if illicit actors exploit crypto rails. The idea is not to hastily embrace digital assets as a mainstream payment method but to evaluate a measured, regulated pathway that aligns with the UK’s broader financial oversight framework. The ultimate objective is to reduce the exposure of legitimate bettors to illegal operators while ensuring that any crypto-enabled gambling activity sits on a robust licensing backbone.
This discussion sits at the intersection of technology, consumer protection, and public policy. It mirrors a wider regulatory trend in which governments are testing how digital assets can coexist with traditional financial safeguards. The UK’s approach—balancing innovation with precaution—adds to a growing chorus of inquiries across jurisdictions that are trying to determine whether crypto payments can be integrated into regulated consumer sectors without undermining the rule of law or consumer protections.
What to watch next
- The FCA’s final consultation on crypto market proposals and the timeline for implementing the regime, with the licensing gateway expected to open in September 2026 and the regime going live by October 2027.
- The Industry Forum’s recommendations on the practical path forward for crypto payments in licensed gambling, as the regulator weighs feasibility and safeguards.
- The ongoing regulatory developments, including potential UK government or parliamentary inquiries and related activity around stablecoins and broader crypto regulation.
- Any concrete steps operators take to prepare for a regime that could permit crypto payments, including enhanced KYC, AML controls, and consumer protection measures.
Sources & verification
- Gambling Commission – Tim Miller’s remarks at the Betting and Gaming Council AGM in London (https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article/bgc-agm-2026-tim-miller-speech).
- UK crypto rules and regulatory outlook — final FCA consultation on crypto markets (Cointelegraph article referencing the FCA’s proposals) (https://cointelegraph.com/news/uk-dodges-us-malaise-regulator-new-crypto-rules).
- FCA licensing timeline for cryptoassets, including September 2026 application window and October 2027 live date (https://cointelegraph.com/news/uk-crypto-september-2026-fca-licensing-gateway# and https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/new-regime-cryptoasset-regulation/how-gateway-will-operate).
- Related regulatory context — UK Lords’ inquiry into stablecoins (Cointelegraph article) (https://cointelegraph.com/news/uk-lords-open-stablecoin-regulation-inquiry).
Crypto payments in licensed gambling: charting a regulatory path
The conversation around crypto-enabled payments in Britain’s regulated gambling sector has shifted from a speculative debate to a structured policy inquiry. At the heart of the discussion is a governance framework that would bring crypto activity under the FCA’s umbrella, ensuring that any use of digital assets for consumer payments remains within a tested, transparent boundary. Tim Miller’s remarks signal a willingness to explore practical steps rather than to provide a rushed verdict on crypto as a payment method. The Betting and Gaming Council event served as a platform to translate high-level regulatory intent into a concrete, industry-facing inquiry.
Under the proposed regime, entities conducting regulated crypto activities would need to secure authorization from the FCA under the FSMA when the regime becomes operative. This requirement underscores the government’s intent to avoid creating a parallel, under-regulated ecosystem for crypto gambling activities. The emphasis on licensing suggests that operators would be expected to meet the same or higher standards of consumer protection, anti-money laundering, and risk management as traditional payment providers. The objective is not only to deliver a lawful pathway for crypto payments but also to ensure that consumer safety remains the cornerstone of any new financing mechanism.
“And that, as well as the growing appetite we see from punters, means we do now want to start looking at what the potential path forward would be to create a way for cryptoasset to be used as a consumer payment option for licensed and regulated gambling in Great Britain.”
The debate also touches on a broader risk-reward calculus. On one hand, crypto payments could align Britain’s gambling market with evolving digital finance technologies, potentially offering faster settlement times and new user experiences. On the other hand, regulators remain vigilant about the possibility of illicit platforms operating on the periphery of legality. The Gambling Commission’s data showing crypto as a leading entry point to illegal sites reinforces the need for robust controls if such payments are to be legalized within licensed venues. Miller’s comments suggest that any forward-looking framework would be designed to close gaps that currently allow illicit access, rather than to normalize risky activity without guardrails.
Crucially, authorities are careful to separate the act of permitting crypto payments from the broader question of licensing. The fact that crypto payments could be allowed does not automatically imply a broader expansion of regulatory reach over operators. Instead, regulators appear intent on upholding rigorous customer suitability checks and ongoing oversight, which could complicate how crypto-based payments are integrated. This nuance matters for operators weighing whether to pilot crypto-enabled deposits and withdrawals, as well as for investors tracking how regulatory risk might shape the value proposition of gaming platforms that move to accept digital assets.
From a market perspective, the UK’s stance sits within a global mosaic of crypto regulation, where authorities are increasingly seeking to harmonize innovation with accountability. The FCA’s licensing roadmap, coupled with related inquiries in other domains such as stablecoins, creates a framework that could influence the pace at which crypto-friendly payments scale in other regulated sectors. While the path to full integration remains under discussion, the UK’s approach signals that crypto as a payment option in gambling is not a hypothetical fantasy; it is a policy question being actively worked through by regulators, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders.