FCA News & Prediction Market Coverage
Track the latest FCA news across prediction markets. Prediction News is following 2 active FCA stories across regulation, legal action, market moves, and platform developments, each clustered from original reporting and summarized for operators, traders, and regulators.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Has the FCA banned prediction markets?
The FCA treats financial prediction market contracts as binary options and has banned their sale, marketing, and distribution to retail consumers since April 2019.
Is the FCA considering lifting its prediction market ban?
As of September 2026, the FCA has held talks with trading platforms about easing the ban amid UK users accessing offshore platforms, though no rule change has occurred and its public position still supports the restriction.
What is the FCA's current view on financial prediction markets?
In its March 2026 perimeter report, the FCA stated that financial prediction market products it has seen are binary options subject to the retail ban, which it considers appropriate due to their speculative nature and risk of consumer harm, while noting it will consider further work on access.
How does the FCA's stance affect platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket?
The ban restricts UK retail access to financial event contracts on such platforms; non-financial contracts fall under the Gambling Commission.
When did the FCA's binary options ban take effect?
The permanent retail ban on binary options, which covers many financial prediction contracts, took effect on April 2, 2019.