The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will introduce new rules from July 29, 2026, that will demand the removal of all non-compliant gaming machines from casinos.The current...
UKGC to classify prediction markets as gambling products
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) stated that prediction markets would fall under existing gambling legislation and be classified as gambling products if they are offered in Great Britain.
The UKGC received questions about legally operating prediction markets in Great Britain, to which the regulator’s director of strategy, Brad Enright, responded in a blog post published on February 4, 2026. He stated that commercial products meeting the legal definition of gambling have to be licensed and regulated by the UKGC.
Prediction markets will most likely be classified as betting intermediaries because their underlying mechanics are very similar to betting exchanges. For this purpose, a betting intermediary license already exists in the UK to regulate such activity.
Enright mentioned that under the country’s regulatory framework, operators must comply with standards on consumer protection, integrity, and crime prevention, which are actively monitored, and enforcement action is taken in case of breaches.
Speaking of a launch in the UK, Enright shared that he doesn’t believe a prediction market operator could classify its product as non-gambling if introduced in the country. Additionally, unlicensed operation can result in criminal liability, which could lead to action against existing licenses.
Lastly, the director explained that the UKGC will monitor global developments in the prediction market space to make sure that it effectively regulates and upholds standards in the British market.
During a consultation that began on January 27, 2026, the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced plans to increase operator license fees by 30% in an...
