Crypto Casino? UK Considers Allowing Online Bettors To Pay In Digital Currency
British gamblers looking for ways to bet on cryptocurrency are more likely to end up on illegal websites than regulated ones. That’s part of what prompted the UK Gambling Commission to start asking if anything needs to change.
Tim Miller, the regulator’s executive director of research and policy, told an industry gathering in London last Thursday that the Commission now wants to carefully consider allowing crypto to be used as a payment method on licensed online gambling platforms in Great Britain.
Illegal Sites Driving Chat
Miller’s case for looking again at crypto payments is not based solely on demand, although he admitted that appetite among bettors is growing. He said this during the annual meeting of the Betting and Gaming Council.
The most obvious argument was about where that demand is going right now. According to reports, Miller told attendees that crypto ranks among the two most common search terms that lead British gamblers directly to unregulated, illegal sites.
A screenshot of Tim Miller’s speech during the Betting and Gaming Council’s annual gathering in London. Source: Gambling Commission UK
Banning crypto from licensed platforms, in other words, may send consumers into a less secure environment than discourage them altogether.
That framework marks a change. For years, the default position from regulators has been that crypto and gambling together pose the greatest risk. Miller’s comments suggest the Gambling Commission is now weighing whether the high risk is doing nothing.
There is no deadline attached to the review. Miller said he asked the Industry Forum – an advisory group made up of representatives from across the gambling industry – to produce a map of available options.
Whichever path is chosen, he made it clear that it will come with strict conditions. Affordability checks, fitness checks, and full compliance with UK gambling laws will all still apply. Accepting crypto will not give casinos special treatment or exemptions.
The Greater Control Framework Sets the Timeline
The Gambling Commission’s inspection is not unique. Any move towards crypto payments in licensed areas will be directly linked to the Financial Conduct Authority’s new crypto regulatory framework, which is currently being finalised.
According to reports, the FCA is expected to complete the consultation process in March, and the full regime will come into force in October 2027. Companies that want to operate under the new rules will have to seek approval from the FCA, with the application window expected to open in September 2026.
Crypto firms that miss that window face a more restrictive path. Reports say they will be allowed to continue using existing products under the interim rules but will not be allowed to roll out new offerings until they are fully approved.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
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