French Gambling Authority Blocks Polymarket Access
Polymarket was geoblocked in France by the country’s gambling authority, which cited illegal gambling and outcome manipulation concerns on the prediction market.
YayaNews contributes financial news and market context through the YayaNews editorial workflow.
Polymarket was geoblocked in France by the country’s gambling authority, which cited illegal gambling and outcome manipulation concerns on the prediction market.
French Gambling Authority Blocks Polymarket Access
DOGE
$0.07221
0.48%
TRX
$0.3233
0.35%
LINK
$8.24
0.49%
ZEC
$539.25
0.69%
ADA
$0.1661
3.13%
XRP
$1.08
0.06%
ETH
$1,845.11
0.45%
BTC
$63,980.52
1.40%
XMR
$329.25
1.86%
BNB
$568.75
0.62%
XLM
$0.1837
0.12%
SOL
$74.87
0.17%
HYPE
$58.94
2.37%
Written by
Zoltan Vardai
staff writer
Reviewed by
Yohan Yun
staff editor
Written by
Zoltan Vardai
staff writer
Reviewed by
Yohan Yun
staff editor
French gambling regulator orders ISPs to block Polymarket
Latest News
Published
Jul 18, 2026
France’s gambling authority has ordered the country’s internet service providers to geoblock Polymarket, citing illegal gambling and market manipulation concerns.
France’s Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), or the National Gambling Authority, has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket.
Prediction websites are considered illegal gambling, the ANJ said in a Friday
press release
.
The regulator said that Polymarket’s operations are not authorized in France and that advertising unauthorized gambling sites constitutes a criminal offense with fines of up to 100,000 euros ($114,000).
Prediction markets allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to the outcomes of future events, from elections and sporting events to economic data and geopolitical developments. Polymarket has surged in popularity over the past two years, with billions of dollars in trading volume, while drawing scrutiny from regulators over whether its event contracts constitute illegal gambling or unlicensed financial products.
Countries that blocked access to Polymarket include
Singapore
, Poland,
Portugal, Hungary
,
Ukraine
,
Brazil
and
Indonesia
. At press time, Polymarket
said
it was geoblocked in 36 regions.
France’s gambling regulator first
shared
plans to block the platform in November 2024 for failing to comply with national gambling laws.
Related:
Polymarket hit by $2.9M theft, users to be refunded
French gambling authority cites outcome manipulation concerns
France’s gambling authority said Polymarket boasts “addictive features” that are similar to regulated gambling offerings, but “amplified by the absence of the protective mechanisms found in the legal gambling market.”
It also cited potential outcome manipulation tied to some event contracts on Polymarket, adding:
“Some of the bets offered on this platform appeared to be rigged: for example, bets on the weather revealed that weather sensors may have been hacked.”
The cybercrime unit of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into this matter in May 2026 and found a lack of identity verification, such as Know Your Customer checks.
Prediction markets have also drawn scrutiny from US regulators. On June 17,
Kentucky sued five
prediction market platforms, including Kalshi and Polymarket, accusing them of operating unlicensed sports betting platforms. At least 17 other states have followed suit.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission
sued eight states
, arguing they had interfered with the federal regulator’s exclusive authority over federally regulated event contracts.
Magazine:
Dubai tops Asian crypto hubs, Taiwan passes crypto laws: Asia Express
Subscribe to daily byte-sized crypto news from Cointelegraph
Subscribe
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s
Editorial Policy
and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Polymarket
Prediction Markets
France
European Union
Law
Industry
More on the subject
FTX to distribute $900M to creditors in fifth payment round
12 hours ago
Turner Wright
Galaxy lands 15-year Texas Tech stadium naming rights deal
14 hours ago
Nate Kostar
Consensys unknowingly outsourced developer work to North Korean
14 hours ago
Turner Wright
News Brief
FTX to distribute $900M to creditors in fifth payment round
12 hours ago
Turner Wright
Galaxy lands 15-year Texas Tech stadium naming rights deal
14 hours ago
Nate Kostar
Consensys unknowingly outsourced developer work to North Korean
14 hours ago
Turner Wright
News Brief
Original YayaNews editorial coverage, published for informational purposes.
This article is sourced from CoinTelegraph. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Topics & Symbols
Continue Reading
Related Reading
Ethereum ETF Hype Builds: Analysts Predict ETH Could Break $4,000
As the SEC accelerates its review of spot Ethereum ETFs, market optimism surges. Analysts suggest institutional inflows could push ETH past $4,000 if approved, though regulatory risks remain.
Ethereum ETFs See Consecutive Inflows: Is an Altcoin Season on the Horizon?
Ethereum ETFs have recently experienced sustained net inflows, signaling a shift in institutional sentiment. This analysis explores the potential impact on ETH, DeFi, and NFT ecosystem tokens, and assesses the likelihood of an altcoin recovery amid improving market sentiment.
Ethereum ETF Approval Hopes Boost ETH Price and DeFi Ecosystem: Short-Term Impact Analysis
Ethereum ETF makes key progress, turning market sentiment optimistic. This article analyzes the short-term boost to ETH price from approval expectations, the knock-on effects on DeFi TVL and activity, and potential regulatory and market risks.
Bitcoin Halving Hits Miner Revenue Hard, Hashrate Migration Raises Security Concerns
Analysis of the short-term impact of Bitcoin's halving on miner revenue and the potential security risks of hashrate migration to low-cost regions, exploring miner survival strategies and shifting market sentiment.
