In a strategic move to diversify its world-renowned gambling hub, the Government of Gibraltar has officially licensed Predict Street Ltd as its first prediction market intermediary.
The platform has already secured a high-profile positioning as the “Official Prediction Market Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026,” offering early access to users worldwide.
A Fast-Track Response to UK Tax Hikes
The licensing of Predict Street Ltd follows a record-speed application process initiated after the Consensus Hong Kong event. Nigel Feetham, Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, informed Parliament that the move is a direct effort to offset potential revenue losses following recent increases in UK Gambling Duty.
“We have licensed a new company operating in the ‘prediction markets’ sector, processing the application in record time… This is the pace at which we must act to help offset at least some of the loss of tax revenues while continuing to grow our local ecosystem.”
Gibraltar vs. The European Trend
While countries like France, Portugal, and the Netherlands have moved to restrict or ban prediction platforms like Polymarket, Gibraltar is embracing the sector as a fintech-gambling hybrid.
By treating prediction markets as a legitimate financial-betting crossover, the territory is positioning itself as a competitive alternative for operators facing regulatory hurdles in the EU. Predict Street’s focus on the 2026 World Cup suggests that political and event-based forecasting will be a central pillar of Gibraltar’s economic interests moving forward.
