IG Group plans to launch financial prediction markets for UK professional clients in Q4 2026. Its wider ambitions for sports, politics and entertainment face a separate hurdle: the Gambling Commission still lists IG View Limited’s real-event betting licence application as pending.

The distinction matters. IG’s financial-market launch is planned for Q4 2026, while its proposed non-financial event markets are targeted for early 2027. The register does not show the requested betting licence as active.

Two stages, different markets

At its London Capital Markets Event on 22 October 2026, IG said it plans to launch financial prediction markets for UK professional clients in Q4. It expects to broaden the offering to politics, entertainment and sports in early 2027. SBC News also reported on the proposed UK expansion.

  • Q4 2026: planned launch of financial prediction markets for UK professional clients.
  • Early 2027: planned expansion into politics, entertainment and sports, subject to the required licence.

IG has applied for a UK gambling licence for the wider real-event betting offer. The Gambling Commission’s register lists IG View Limited’s General Betting Standard, Real Event Remote application as pending, not approved.

What happens next

The Commission says remote licences cover gambling offered online or by other remote means. Its register defines “pending” as an application or variation that is not yet active. The listing confirms that IG’s application is in progress, not that the company has permission under this licence to offer real-event betting.

IG has not announced a decision date. Its early-2027 expansion remains a company plan, not an approved product or confirmed launch. The next clear regulatory milestone will be a change to the application’s status on the public register.

IG’s Q4 financial-market plan and its proposed early-2027 sports, politics and entertainment offer are separate stages. The latter still depends on a licence that the regulator lists as pending.