IG Group has applied for a UK gambling licence as it prepares to enter prediction markets, beginning with financial contracts for professional clients in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The company intends to extend the offering to contracts on politics, entertainment and sports in early 2027, provided the licence is granted. FX News Group reported the application.
The initial launch is limited to UK professional clients and to financial prediction markets. The proposed expansion is therefore contingent on regulatory approval, rather than a confirmed launch across the broader event categories.
IG held a Capital Markets Event for investors and analysts on Oct. 22, where it outlined plans to reorganise around three divisions: IG Consumer, IG Securities and tastytrade. Chief executive Breon Corcoran said trading, investing and entertainment were converging and that the group was positioned to benefit from that shift.
Its strategic review, announced March 19, concluded that the sector was aligned with the group’s strengths in regulated markets, risk management and technology.
Separately, IG announced on July 30 that it had agreed to acquire US daily fantasy sports and prediction-markets operator Underdog for up to about $1.3 billion. The company said that transaction would establish it as a leader in US prediction markets, while Underdog is to operate as a commercially standalone business with its own brand, management and platform.
IG’s standalone medium-term guidance calls for at least 10% organic annual revenue growth from a 2025 revenue base of about £1.1 billion. The company said its existing plan had produced stronger active-customer growth and supported its confidence in creating significant shareholder value in the coming years.
