France Blocks Polymarket as Regulators Increase Pressure on Prediction Markets
France has taken stronger action against Polymarket by ordering internet providers to block access to the platform.
The country’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ) said Polymarket is offering gambling services that are not legally approved under French law.
The block was ordered on July 16 after the regulator said users were still accessing the platform despite an earlier restriction. The ANJ has been watching Polymarket since November 2024 because it believes the platform’s prediction markets are similar to unauthorized gambling.
France Moves From Restrictions to Full Blocking
The ANJ said prediction market platforms like Polymarket fall under gambling rules in France.
The regulator also warned that promoting an unauthorized gambling service could result in fines of up to €100,000. This could also apply to people who publicly share betting odds or possible payouts to promote these platforms.
According to the ANJ, Polymarket continued gaining users in France even after previous access restrictions. The regulator reported hundreds of thousands of visits from French users and said the website continued showing live prediction odds.
France has already blocked more than 1,200 website addresses in 2025 using its administrative powers, and Polymarket is now among the platforms facing stronger action.
Concerns Over User Verification and Market Safety
The ANJ also raised concerns about how Polymarket manages users and market activity.
The regulator said some prediction markets appeared suspicious and claimed that certain weather-related markets may have involved manipulated data.
French prosecutors opened a cybercrime investigation on May 4 to look into these concerns.
The ANJ also said Polymarket did not have strong enough identity and location checks to prevent users from restricted regions, including France, from accessing the platform.
More European Countries Take Action
France is not the only European country targeting Polymarket.
The Czech Republic recently ordered internet providers to block the platform after authorities classified it as an unauthorized gambling service.
Across Europe, regulators are still debating how prediction markets should be treated. Some view them as gambling platforms, while others are examining whether certain contracts should fall under financial market rules.
The European Securities and Markets Authority has also raised questions about whether some event-based contracts could be considered financial products under existing regulations.
Prediction Markets Face Global Challenges
The pressure on prediction markets is not limited to Europe.
In the United States, Polymarket and other platforms such as Kalshi have faced legal challenges over whether their event contracts are actually forms of sports betting.
Kentucky took action against several prediction market platforms, arguing they were offering betting services without proper state licenses. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission later challenged state involvement, creating a larger debate over who should regulate these markets.
Security Issues Add More Pressure
Polymarket has also faced security problems.
A phishing attack on the platform’s frontend reportedly caused around $3.1 million in losses across 11 wallets. The affected users were later set to receive refunds.
With France now blocking access, and more regulators reviewing prediction markets worldwide, platforms like Polymarket are facing increasing pressure to improve compliance, user verification, and market security.
The ANJ said it will continue monitoring Polymarket and any steps the company takes to verify users’ identities and locations.
