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The UK Gambling Commission is considering whether to allow cryptocurrency payments at licensed online casinos, with Executive Director Tim Miller citing the regulator’s own research showing that crypto searches are among the two biggest drivers sending British gamblers to illegal offshore betting sites.
The move comes as the country prepares to implement a sweeping digital asset framework under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
UK crypto gambling regulation is now being openly discussed at the highest policy levels, with Gambling Commission Executive Director for Research and Policy Tim Miller stating the regulator wants to examine “the potential path forward” for allowing cryptoassets as consumer payment options for licensed gambling in Great Britain.
Miller made the remarks during the annual general meeting of the Betting and Gaming Council in London, according to his published speech.
The debate around UK crypto gambling regulation is closely linked to the incoming crypto oversight regime led by the FCA.
Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), companies conducting regulated crypto activities will be required to obtain full FCA authorization once the new framework goes live.
Miller stressed that any implementation of UK crypto gambling regulation would not bypass strict compliance standards. “Companies carrying out regulated crypto activities will require authorization by the FCA under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 when the new regime commences,” he said.
That means casinos accepting crypto would only be able to do so through fully licensed and authorized providers.
In other words, UK crypto gambling regulation would operate inside the same financial crime, anti-money laundering, and consumer protection guardrails as other regulated financial services.
One of the most compelling arguments supporting UK crypto gambling regulation is consumer protection.
According to Miller, research conducted by the Commission shows that cryptocurrency searches are among the top drivers sending British gamblers to illegal offshore websites.
“Our illegal markets research also gives us evidence that crypto is one of the two biggest searches that lead British gamblers to illegal sites,” Miller explained.
By integrating crypto into regulated platforms, UK crypto gambling regulation could potentially redirect users away from unlicensed operators and into safer, supervised environments.
However, Miller was clear that allowing digital assets as a payment method does not mean lowering the bar for player protection.
Strict affordability checks and customer suitability assessments would remain mandatory. Operators that fail these checks would struggle to meet compliance standards under UK crypto gambling regulation.
The future of UK crypto gambling regulation hinges largely on the FCA’s broader crypto roadmap.
Earlier this year, the FCA published a final consultation outlining 10 regulatory proposals covering crypto markets. The regulator expects to conclude the consultation process by March, with full implementation targeted for October 2027.
In a document released on Jan. 8, the FCA confirmed that firms must secure full authorization before the regime begins on Oct. 25, 2027. “We expect the application period will open in September 2026,” the regulator stated.
This timeline places UK crypto gambling regulation squarely within a structured, phased rollout. No immediate green light is expected, but the groundwork is clearly being laid.
Despite the forward-looking tone, UK crypto gambling regulation is far from guaranteed.
Miller emphasized that accepting cryptocurrency does not automatically expand gambling access. Operators must still meet stringent standards, particularly around affordability and vulnerability protections.
The Gambling Commission has tightened its oversight of online betting in recent years, responding to political and public pressure to curb gambling-related harm.
Any integration of crypto under UK crypto gambling regulation would need to align with those safeguards.
Industry insiders say the biggest hurdle may not be technology, but compliance. Crypto’s pseudonymous nature presents enhanced monitoring challenges — something regulators will expect firms to address before authorization is granted.
The discussion marks a defining chapter in UK crypto gambling regulation, signaling that policymakers are no longer dismissing digital assets outright but are instead considering controlled integration.
If implemented under the FCA’s 2027 framework, UK crypto gambling regulation could position Britain as one of the first major jurisdictions to formally align online betting with regulated crypto payments.
For now, the Commission has tasked its Industry Forum advisory group with mapping out possible pathways. No deadline has been set, but the direction of travel is clear: crypto is no longer at the fringe of gambling policy discussions.
As the FCA’s licensing window approaches in 2026 and implementation looms in 2027, UK crypto gambling regulation may soon shift from theoretical debate to legislative reality — reshaping the future of online betting in Great Britain.
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