TLDR
- Predict Street Ltd is now on Gibraltar’s official register of licensed betting intermediaries, making it the territory’s first licensed prediction market operator.
- The platform is marketing itself as the “Official Prediction Market Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026” and is collecting early access sign-ups.
- Justice Minister Nigel Feetham announced the license in Parliament, saying the application was processed in record time after his trip to Consensus Hong Kong.
- The move sets Gibraltar apart from European countries like the Netherlands, France, and Portugal, which have banned prediction market platforms like Polymarket.
- Feetham said the licensing push is partly aimed at offsetting lost tax revenue from a recent increase in UK Gambling Duty.
Gibraltar has officially licensed its first prediction market operator, a move that places the British Overseas Territory at the front of a growing regulatory trend in Europe.
Predict Street Ltd now appears on Gibraltar’s official register of licensed betting intermediaries. The company is the first prediction market platform to receive a license in the territory.
The platform is already positioning itself for a major launch. It is promoting itself as the “Official Prediction Market Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026” and is inviting users to submit their details for early access.
The announcement came from Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry Nigel Feetham during a session of Parliament. He said the application was processed in record time.
Feetham credited his recent attendance at Consensus Hong Kong for helping move things forward. Consensus is one of the largest crypto and blockchain conferences in the world.
“We have licensed a new company operating in the prediction markets sector, processing the application in record time following my attendance at Consensus Hong Kong last month,” Feetham said.
Gibraltar Breaks From European Trend on Prediction Markets
The decision puts Gibraltar in a different position from much of Europe. Several countries have moved to restrict or outright ban prediction market platforms in recent months.
The Netherlands, Romania, Ukraine, France, and Portugal have all banned operators like Polymarket. Regulators in those countries have raised concerns about whether prediction platforms should be classified as gambling.
Gibraltar has taken the opposite approach. Rather than restricting the sector, it is actively trying to attract prediction market companies to set up shop in the territory.
Feetham framed the licensing decision as part of a broader economic strategy. He pointed to the recent increase in UK Gambling Duty as a threat to Gibraltar’s revenue base.
“This is the pace at which we must act to help offset at least some of the loss of tax revenues following the recent increase in UK Gambling Duty, while continuing to grow our local ecosystem,” he said.
Fintech and Gambling Expansion Strategy
Gibraltar has long been a hub for online gambling companies. The territory is now looking to expand that reputation into the fintech and prediction market space.
Feetham said the government is working to protect Gibraltar’s economic interests. He described the effort as relentless.
“We are working relentlessly to protect Gibraltar’s economic interests,” he said.
Prediction markets allow users to place bets on the outcome of real-world events, from elections to sports to economic data. The sector has grown rapidly, with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi gaining traction in the United States and elsewhere.
The licensing of Predict Street Ltd could attract more operators to apply for similar licenses in Gibraltar. The territory’s fast-track approach may appeal to companies facing regulatory barriers in other parts of Europe.
Predict Street Ltd has not yet announced a full launch date. The platform is currently in its early access phase and collecting user sign-ups through its website.
