France's Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) has issued a formal order to internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform Polymarket. The National Gambling Authority declared Friday that Polymarket's operations are not authorized in France, classifying prediction websites as illegal gambling.
The regulator emphasized that advertising such unauthorized sites constitutes a criminal offense, with penalties reaching up to 100,000 euros. Polymarket, which allows users to trade contracts on future events from elections to economic data, has seen explosive growth but faces mounting global scrutiny.
France is not alone. The platform is already geoblocked in 36 regions, including Singapore, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Ukraine, Brazil, and Indonesia. French authorities first announced plans for the ban in November 2024.
The ANJ cited Polymarket's "addictive features" without the protective mechanisms of regulated gambling. It also raised alarms over potential outcome manipulation, noting that investigations into weather-related bets suggested possible sensor hacking. A cybercrime probe found a lack of standard identity verification.
The crackdown extends beyond Europe. In the United States, Kentucky and at least 17 other states have sued Polymarket and rival Kalshi, accusing them of operating unlicensed sports betting platforms. The CFTC is also battling states over regulatory jurisdiction.