UK Gambling Watchdog May Allow Crypto Payments Under New FCA Framework

The UK's Gambling Commission, through its executive director Tim Miller, is investigating the potential path for allowing cryptocurrency to be used as a consumer payment option for licensed and regulated gambling in Great Britain. This exploration is happening as the country prepares to bring more crypto activity under the new regulatory regime led by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which requires authorization for regulated crypto activities starting in 2027. Miller suggested that accepting crypto payments could be a consumer protection measure, as research indicates crypto is a major search term leading British gamblers to illegal sites. However, he noted that allowing crypto payments does not mean casinos would be regulated by UK lawmakers, as they would struggle with customer suitability checks. The FCA's new crypto framework implementation is targeted for October 2027, with the application period expected to open in September 2026.

(Source：Cointelegraph)