Prediction markets serving Great Britain will remain under the Gambling Act 2005 framework. Ministers will monitor the sector rather than introduce dedicated legislation at this stage.

Prediction markets operating in Great Britain will need the relevant Gambling Commission licence. Approved platforms may be treated as betting intermediaries under the Gambling Act 2005, the Treasury said in a written parliamentary answer on September 8, 2026.

The government will monitor the sector and consider further action if necessary. It has not announced a separate regulatory framework, consultation or new legislation for prediction markets.

How the existing rules apply

A prediction market allows users to buy or sell positions linked to the outcome of an event. Under the government’s stated approach, a platform that facilitates bets between users could fall within the existing betting intermediary category.

Section 13 of the Gambling Act 2005 defines a betting intermediary as a service that facilitates the making or acceptance of bets between other people. The Act treats that activity as providing facilities for betting.

The Gambling Commission lists remote betting intermediary licences for online services that bring betting parties together without taking liability for their bets. Betting exchanges are the main example of this model.

No dedicated legislation announced

Treasury minister Lucy Rigby gave the parliamentary answer in response to a question from Conservative MP Bob Blackman. The question asked whether ministers planned to introduce legislation specifically for prediction markets.

The answer confirmed the existing licensing route. It did not announce a consultation, bill, licence condition or new enforcement policy.

The September 8 response sets out the government’s current position, not a new statutory framework. The position could change if ministers decide that the sector requires further intervention.

Operators seeking to serve customers in Great Britain would still face the Gambling Commission’s licensing process. The Commission says businesses providing remote gambling facilities to consumers in Great Britain require an operating licence.

Why the licence category matters

The licence category affects how a platform is assessed and which controls it must maintain. The Commission examines the operator’s role in setting terms, settling bets, handling money and managing risks linked to money laundering, betting integrity and social responsibility.

  • Licensing: platforms would need the appropriate Gambling Commission operating licence before serving the British market.
  • Market structure: a service that only brings users together could be treated differently from an operator that becomes a party to the bet.
  • Compliance: operators would be subject to the licence conditions and regulatory duties that apply to licensed gambling businesses.

The Commission’s guidance says an operator that becomes a party to a bet may require a general betting operating licence instead. The final classification will depend on the platform’s contractual arrangements and business model.

Great Britain, not the whole United Kingdom

The government’s answer refers specifically to Great Britain, meaning England, Scotland and Wales. It does not announce a unified prediction market regime for every part of the United Kingdom.

The Gambling Commission distinguishes Great Britain from Northern Ireland in its territorial guidance. The Gambling Act 2005 applies to operators providing gambling facilities to consumers in Great Britain.

What happens next

The immediate regulatory position is unchanged. Any prediction market seeking to operate lawfully in Great Britain must assess its activity against the Gambling Act 2005 and seek the relevant Gambling Commission authorisation.

Ministers left open the possibility of further action if the sector’s impact changes. That could lead to additional guidance, legislative proposals or regulatory intervention, but none was announced in the September 8 answer.