Argentina has ordered a nationwide block on prediction market Polymarket after a Buenos Aires court ruled the platform was operating without authorization and posed gambling-related risks to users.
The ruling directs internet providers to block access to the site and its domains. It also compels Apple and Google to remove or restrict Polymarket’s mobile apps for Argentine users. The measure is being enforced by ENACOM, the country’s communications regulator.
The case was led by LOTBA, the City of Buenos Aires Lottery, and supported by CASCBA, a casino industry group. Prosecutors argued Polymarket functions as a betting platform, allowing users to wager on political events, inflation, and global crises using crypto and credit cards-without proper age verification or identity checks.
Authorities highlighted a market predicting Argentina’s February inflation that moved significantly before official data release, raising concerns about insider activity. However, the legal basis focused on regulatory noncompliance and consumer protection gaps.
Polymarket already blocks users in over 30 countries, including Germany, France, and Australia. Ukraine recently implemented a similar ban as part of a broader online gambling crackdown.