France orders ISPs to block Polymarket after the platform ignored a prior ban on financial transactions from French accounts.
France’s national gaming authority ANJ has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket’s website, escalating enforcement after the platform continued operating despite a November 2024 ban on financial transactions. The move follows similar restrictions in Germany, Italy, and Spain, signaling broader regulatory unease with prediction markets across Europe.
ANJ cited Polymarket’s real-time betting odds as unlawful advertising for an unauthorized gambling site, a violation carrying fines. The decision reflects growing concerns over market integrity, including recent incidents involving hacked data and alleged misuse of classified information for wagers.
The crackdown highlights rising regulatory and reputational risks for prediction market platforms, even as trading volumes and public interest expand. Other jurisdictions considering similar rules are likely to monitor France’s precedent closely.