France Blocks Polymarket Prediction Platform Over Gambling Concerns

France's national gambling authority has mandated that domestic internet service providers block access to Polymarket, an online prediction market platform. The decision, issued on July 17, stems from concerns that the platform is promoting unlicensed gambling services.

The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) stated that Polymarket's operations expose users to substantial risks of gambling losses and that some of its betting markets may be susceptible to manipulation. This move represents an escalation of regulatory action against the platform, following a November 2024 ban on financial transactions between French accounts and Polymarket.

Despite the previous transaction ban, the ANJ noted a significant increase in French website traffic to Polymarket, reaching over 578,000 visits in June alone. The authority emphasized that operating without a license in France constitutes illegal promotion of betting, a criminal offense punishable by fines of up to 100,000 euros.

This French action is part of a growing international scrutiny of prediction market platforms. Recent incidents have included a meteorological probe being hacked to allegedly manipulate bets on Polymarket, a U.S. soldier facing charges for allegedly using insider information to profit from bets on military actions, and a White House staffer being suspended for betting on presidential speech content. Germany, Italy, and Spain have also implemented similar blocking or restrictive measures against such platforms.