UK Regulator Discusses Legalization of Crypto Payments in Gambling

UK Regulator Discusses Legalization of Crypto Payments in Gambling

The UK Gambling Commission has launched a discussion on the possible introduction of cryptocurrencies as a payment method for licensed gambling operators in the United Kingdom. The regulator has approached industry representatives with a request to work out mechanisms for implementing such tools, signaling a shift from theoretical debate to practical preparation for potential changes.

The initiative is linked to the preparation of new regulations within the framework of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Order 2025. According to the draft, regulation of cryptoassets will be transferred under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Once the rules come into force, companies working with digital assets will be required to obtain appropriate authorization. This will create a formal oversight system for the custody, processing, and circulation of cryptoassets.

The Commission notes a steady increase in user interest in cryptocurrencies. This is especially true for players who are looking for alternatives to the licensed market and often migrate to the grey sector. In the regulator’s view, a controlled integration of crypto payments could become a tool to curb this outflow and a way to bring part of the audience back into the regulated environment.

In effect, the United Kingdom is beginning to cautiously test the idea: instead of banning something that already exists, it is attempting to integrate it into a transparent and supervised system.