Britain's Financial Conduct Authority has discussed potentially easing retail access to financial prediction markets with trading platforms, The Times reported, but had announced no policy change, formal consultation, proposal or timetable as of September 7, 2026. Contracts linked to financial and certain climate events remain classified as binary options and cannot be sold to retail customers by FCA-authorized providers under the permanent ban introduced in April 2019. The FCA has said such products resemble gambling, expose consumers to substantial loss risks and can be difficult to value accurately. Industry representatives say millions of Britons use offshore venues including Kalshi and Polymarket, sometimes through virtual private networks, although the FCA has not independently confirmed the scale. Those users can fall outside domestic complaint procedures, Financial Ombudsman Service access and Financial Services Compensation Scheme coverage. Financial contracts fall within FCA oversight, while sports and political markets generally sit with the Gambling Commission, potentially requiring a platform to meet both regulatory regimes. The FCA's earlier work on retail investment rules and its March perimeter report leave open further consideration of market access, but any reversal would require a formal regulatory process.