The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission is exploring whether cryptocurrencies could be used as a payment option at licensed online casinos as Britain prepares to fold more crypto activity into a new regulatory framework run by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Tim Miller, the commission’s executive director for research and policy, said the regulator wants to examine “the potential path forward” for permitting “cryptoasset to be used as a consumer payment option for licensed and regulated gambling in Great Britain.” He made the remarks at the Betting and Gaming Council’s annual meeting in London.
Miller stressed that firms carrying out regulated crypto activities will need FCA authorization under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) once the new regime is in force. That requirement, together with growing customer interest, prompted the commission to start looking at how regulated crypto payments might be introduced for licensed operators.
To help chart a route, the commission has asked the Industry Forum—an advisory group representing the gambling sector—to map out the best approach. No deadline has been set for that work. The commission believes enabling regulated crypto payments could also steer players away from illegal sites: “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 said, suggesting regulated options could be a consumer protection measure.
He cautioned, however, that allowing crypto payments would not automatically bring all crypto casinos under UK oversight. Some operators may be unable to satisfy customer suitability and anti-money-laundering checks required by UK rules, limiting the regulator’s reach.
The comments come alongside broader FCA moves to regulate crypto markets. The FCA published a final consultation containing 10 proposals and is expected to conclude that process in March, with full implementation targeted for October 2027. The regulator has indicated the application window for its new crypto licensing regime should open in September 2026, and firms will need to obtain full authorization before the regime goes live on Oct. 25, 2027.
Crypto asset service providers (CASPs) that miss the application window will be subject to transitional rules that allow existing products to continue but restrict new offerings.
The Gambling Commission’s inquiry into crypto payments signals a cautious, consumer-focused approach: assessing how to permit regulated crypto use while ensuring operators meet UK regulatory and suitability standards.