Gibraltar has established the first dedicated regulatory regime for prediction markets anywhere in the world, carving the sector out from its existing gambling framework.
The new rules came into force on 13 July 2026, exempting prediction market operators from certain provisions of the Gambling Act 2025.
The regulations will be formally known as the Prediction Market Regulations 2026 and establish a standalone set of rules specifically tailored to the sector.
This move marks a significant milestone, as no other jurisdiction has previously created a dedicated regulatory regime exclusively for prediction markets.
Gibraltar’s Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, Nigel Feetham KC MP, explained the reasoning behind the approach in a statement accompanying the announcement.
Feetham KC MP said: “The focus is not on labels, 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.”
The regulations prioritise financial crime prevention, market integrity, and participant protection as core pillars of the new framework’s design.
FIFA-partnered ADI Predictstreet and WagerWire have already secured licences under Gibraltar’s regulatory framework, ahead of the new rules coming into force.
The international precedent set by Gibraltar could provide a significant regulatory pathway for prediction market operators looking to establish credibility outside the United States.
The US has historically been the dominant market for prediction trading, but regulatory uncertainty there has pushed operators to seek alternative licensing jurisdictions.
Gibraltar’s willingness to build a bespoke regulatory structure signals a proactive approach to emerging financial and gaming products that blur traditional sector boundaries.
The Prediction Market Regulations 2026 could attract a wave of operators seeking a well-regulated, internationally recognised home base for their platforms.
