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UKGC to open discussions on licensed crypto payments
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has opened discussions on potentially regulating cryptocurrency payments for licensed gambling operators.
On February 26, 2026, UKGC’s executive director Tim Miller announced during the Betting and Gaming Council’s AGM that the commission had asked its Industry Forum to explore how crypto assets could be used as a consumer payment method.
Miller said:
“We want to start looking at what the potential path forward would be to create a way for crypto assets to be used as a consumer payment option for licensed and regulated gambling here in Great Britain. At the Commission, we know that this is something where demand exists and will probably grow. There will certainly, I think, be significant challenges and risks to overcome, considering this topic. But I’m really keen that we approach this in the spirit of exploring the art of the possible, rather than starting from a position of finding all the reasons not to innovate.”
Miller added that this innovation could act as a consumer protection tool, as cryptocurrency is one of the most common search terms that leads British users to illegal websites.
If approved, crypto asset activities would be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and would come into force on October 25, 2027. The new framework would require firms undertaking regulated crypto asset activities to get authorization and permission to operate from the FCA.
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