The UK Gambling Commission has begun scoping out how it will allow crypto gambling to exist within its regulatory framework, but there are concerns that embrace of cryptocurrencies by one of the world’s largest online gambling markets might make very little impact.

The UK’s gambling regulator announced in February that it was seriously considering allowing its licence-holding operator to allow gambling with crypto.

The move is driven in part by a project at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to beef up rules around exchanges and other virtual asset providers.

This bedrock, the commission believes, will give it a solid foundation to open up the world of gambling, while addressing concerns around potential money laundering and value fluctuations.

Speaking in London earlier this week, the commission’s enforcement director, John Pierce, confirmed that he is leading a team within the regulator that is scoping out the project.

He said that formal regulations are unlikely to emerge until 2027, but speaking at the annual CMS Conference on Tuesday (May 12), he was clear that “we are moving increasingly towards crypto”.

Pierce added that he is keen to hear from members of the gambling industry on how they would like to see crypto regulations structured, primarily through the regulator’s Industry Forum, but admitted that the staff currently at the regulator lack skills in this area.

This skill gap is an area the Gambling Commission will need to close if it is to create a workable framework for crypto gambling, with some key players in the industry apparently unimpressed with the regulator’s efforts so far, sources say.

Pressure builds

While the regulator is being careful not to fully confirm that it will develop a model for crypto gambling, there’s good reason to believe it will push forward with the project.

This is due to several factors, including the growing threat of the black market. The commissions’ own research into what motives consumers to look offshore found a desire to gamble with their crypto holdings is a key motivator.

There’s also growing pressure from the international anti-money laundering (AML) establishment to do more than simply prohibit the use of cryptocurrencies.

Current advice from the watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is that nations should look to bring crypto within their regulatory framework so as to better protect against its potential misuse for fraud and terrorism funding.

This position has influenced the FCA’s move to develop more complete crypto regulations and in turn has spurred the Gambling Commission to make its own moves.

The suggested date of 2027 for new regulations is no coincidence. FATF will commence its next mutual evaluation of the UK that year and will expect officials to show how they are limiting the flow of crypto from British shores to potentially illicit offshore operators.

Will it work?

There are real concerns that very few crypto casino players would actually be interested in wagering in the regulated market.

“In the UK, the demand is relatively small,” said Maria Rodriguez, the head of payment strategy for operating giant Flutter.

“It’s a very niche service, but it’s consumer that we don’t have access to at the moment,” she added, also speaking at this week’s CMS event.

One of the key questions is what kinds of crypto will be permitted in the UK market.

Pierce hinted that his team is leaning towards only allowing stablecoins, which rules out a large potential consumer segment who own currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

This is primarily due to concerns around volatility. Stablecoins are pegged to supposedly stable currencies or commodities, like the US dollar, and are less susceptible to sudden market movements.

Pierce and Rodriguez both pointed to potential issues where coins with rapidly fluctuating values, such as bitcoin, drop massively while they are being held by operators as a customer deposit.

There are also other potential issues around financial services. Operators need banking partners in order to do business and they will likely resist any drift towards uncertainty.

So, while that makes a stablecoin-only regime the safe option, it’s a choice that risks alienating much of the current black market gambling which the commission is explicitly hoping to tempt onshore.

“You think about the segment that is the pure native crypto customers, even if we get to the point that we offer it, are there really going to come?” wondered Rogriguez. “I still have a question mark of whether we are going to attract those customers or not.”

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ReferOn has launched a built-in crypto finance layer designed to automate affiliate payouts and centralise crypto payout workflows inside its platform. The company said the feature supports crypto payments through its licensed partners’ payment gateways and is available now.

ReferOn said the layer is intended to replace manual, fragmented finance processes with program funding, real-time visibility into funds, automated crypto payouts, and audit-ready transaction history with exports. The company is positioning the release at affiliate teams that manage high payout volumes and frequent reconciliation work.

The update introduces a dedicated finance page for each affiliate program, including program funding and balance visibility, integrated top-ups with deposit address management, and a transaction journal with filters, detail views, pagination, and CSV export. ReferOn also said the automated payout flow records conversion data (rate and amounts), syncs statuses, and creates transaction records instantly.

On controls, ReferOn said each automated payout requires explicit confirmations and 2FA before being triggered. The company added that the feature is built to support audit and compliance needs through traceable transaction logs and one-click CSV exports.

Vlad Bondarenko, Head of Product at ReferOn, commented: “In all honesty, manual crypto payments are a disaster waiting to happen. When teams are afraid of entering the wrong address, making a double payment, or organising ever-growing spreadsheets, the team environment turns conservative and reactive. Our new crypto finance layer eliminates this confusion by providing managers with a comprehensive, centralised hub that automates the manual via integrated payment partners. This feature isn’t about offering affiliates a fancy new payment method or automating for the sake of it, it’s about freeing you up to run a revamped financial operation.”

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Global crypto gaming platform BC.GAME has introduced BC Engine, a new rewards system designed to provide players with ongoing value from their gameplay, without minimum thresholds or tier requirements.

Inspired by crypto staking models, BC Engine transforms the platform’s native token, $BC, from a one-time incentive into a continuous rewards mechanism. Players still earn $BC through wagering as usual, but instead of being distributed as a standalone reward, the token is automatically allocated into BC Engine, where it contributes to ongoing earnings.

Rewards are distributed hourly in BCD, BC.GAME’s USD-pegged token, with each player’s payout determined by their $BC balance at the time of distribution. This structure creates a more consistent and transparent reward model, directly linking player activity to tangible returns.

The system also introduces a more sustainable approach by aligning reward funding with actual gaming performance, reducing reliance on traditional promotional spending.

Importantly, BC Engine is accessible to all players from day one, with no wagering thresholds or tier-based entry requirements, allowing users to begin earning rewards from their very first bet.

Alongside the launch, BC.GAME has rolled out additional enhancements to its rewards ecosystem, including a Welcome Shield protection feature for new users, as well as updated daily, weekly, and monthly reward programs.

The release comes as BC.GAME continues to expand in regulated markets, with an increased focus on compliance, local partnerships, and sustainable growth. The platform has been adapting its offering to meet jurisdictional requirements while strengthening its position across both licensed environments and its global crypto audience.

Kar Kheng Giam, Chief Executive Officer of BC.GAME, said:
“We want rewards to be simpler, more immediate, and more sustainable. Players should see value from the moment they start playing, without needing to reach specific milestones. With BC Engine, $BC becomes a core part of how ongoing rewards are delivered.”

The new features are now live across multiple markets, subject to local regulatory availability.

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