Gibraltar has become the first jurisdiction anywhere to enact a purpose-built regulatory framework for prediction markets, carving the fast-growing sector out of its general gambling law. The move sets the British Overseas Territory sharply apart from mainland Europe, where regulators are moving to restrict these platforms.
Key Takeaways
Gibraltar’s Prediction Market Regulations 2026 took effect July 13.The regime carves prediction markets out of the Gambling Act 2025; all event contracts need Gambling Authority approval.Two operators, ADI Predictstreet and WagerWire’s Wire Markets, will be regulated under the new Gibraltar regime.The 24-page instrument takes what the government describes as an “activity-based and risk-based approach.” Under the rules, every event contract must be approved and certified by the Gambling Authority, and each must be “clear, capable of objective settlement, not readily susceptible to manipulation, and consistent with the regulatory objectives.” An independent supervisory panel will oversee the framework, and operators must maintain their own systems to prevent market abuse. “The focus is not on labels,” Feetham said, “but on ensuring that the chosen framework is capable of effective supervision and robust standards of market integrity, transparency, participant protection and financial crime prevention.”
