The UK Gambling Commission is considering authorising crypto payments on legally licensed platforms for the first time. This development is motivated as much by technological innovation as by the fight against the illegal market.
A reflection born of a worrying observation
For several years, the UK Gambling Commission has observed a change in player behaviour. Searches related to cryptocurrency payments are now among the main gateways to illegal gambling sites accessible from the UK. The authority no longer wishes to ignore the phenomenon. The idea is not to legitimise casinos operating exclusively in cryptocurrencies abroad, but to examine whether it is possible to integrate these payment methods into a strictly controlled framework.
Long perceived as a threat, technological innovation could become an instrument of regulation. At least, that is the philosophy now guiding the British approach. According to Tim Miller, Chief Executive of the UK Gambling Commission, systematically rejecting new technologies sometimes amounts to pushing consumers towards unsafe environments.
“At the Commission, we know there is demand in this area.”
The reasoning is simple: if players want to use cryptocurrencies for betting, it is better for them to do so with operators subject to strict rules rather than on offshore platforms that are not subject to any control.
The British authorities have stepped up their actions against illegal operators in recent years, obtaining additional funding to strengthen enforcement. Allowing payments in cryptoassets could thus keep players within the regulated ecosystem.
A task entrusted to the industry itself
Rather than immediate reform, the Commission has opted for a gradual approach. Its industry forum — an advisory group bringing together industry players and experts — has been tasked with studying the practicalities of introducing cryptoasset payments. The aim is to verify whether these payments can comply with the fundamental pillars of the British system: anti-money laundering, know your customer and prevention of excessive gambling.
The regulator remains clear-headed. Cryptoassets are considered a high-risk payment method, particularly due to their pseudonymous nature and the difficulty in verifying the origin of funds. Unlike traditional bank payments, cryptoasset transactions can mask the actual source of the money. For authorities responsible for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, this opacity is a major obstacle.
The Commission already requires any operator introducing a new means of payment to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment and immediately inform the regulator. Operators will likely need to incorporate enhanced identification procedures, combining blockchain analysis, advanced identity verification and continuous transaction monitoring.
The British authorities have emphasised one key point: allowing the use of cryptoassets as a means of payment would not be the same as authorising casinos operating exclusively in cryptocurrencies. All operators would remain subject to existing requirements in terms of commercial suitability, compliance and customer verification.
A reform linked to future financial regulation
The Commission’s deliberations are part of a broader transformation of the UK’s cryptoasset framework.
The government is currently preparing a comprehensive regulatory regime that will place cryptoasset activities under the supervision of the national financial authority. It is scheduled to come into force in October 2027, with a licence application period starting in 2026.
A response to the growing influence of the illegal market
Unlicensed sites capture a significant share of the UK market, attracting users who want to gamble using cryptocurrencies. In Europe, illegal platforms may even represent a majority of the online casino and betting market, according to some industry analyses.
“Innovation should be and can be one of our main tools for protecting consumers when it comes to the illegal market.”
For the Commission, integrating cryptoassets could become an additional tool for protection rather than a factor in deregulation.
A decision with international consequences
If the project is successful, the UK could become one of the first major regulated markets to officially integrate cryptoasset payments into licensed gambling.
Such a decision would be closely watched by European and international regulators facing the same challenges: the explosion of decentralised technologies, the migration of players to offshore platforms and the rapid transformation of digital payment methods.
Tim Miller:
“There will be significant challenges and risks to overcome in examining this topic, but I want us to approach it with a spirit of exploring the art of the possible rather than starting from a position where we find every reason not to innovate.”
Crypto casinos in Belgium
In Belgium, crypto casinos are currently prohibited by gambling legislation. To legally offer online gambling, an operator must obtain a licence from the Gaming Commission and use fully traceable payment methods, which excludes platforms that operate solely in cryptocurrencies. No crypto casino therefore has official authorisation, mainly due to the risks associated with the anonymity of transactions and player protection.
Despite their growing international popularity, these sites are considered illegal on the Belgian market and are among the platforms regularly targeted by the authorities in their fight against unregulated offerings. Stake, one of the most popular crypto casinos, has already been blocked since 2021.