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4 sources·Started 10d ago·Updated 9d ago
France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Over Illegal Gambling
PolymarketFranceAutorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ)KalshiMétéo-FranceParis Public Prosecutor's OfficeCommodity Futures Trading CommissionKentucky
Sources
4outlets
ENCOCOCN
Coverage
5articles
On July 16, 2026, France's gambling regulator ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, treating the prediction market as an illegal gambling site. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) had already banned financial transactions from French residents in November 2024, but users circumvented it via VPNs, with the site attracting 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique French users in June Source: engadgetSource: coindesk.
Regulatory Concerns
The ANJ cited multiple issues: Polymarket's "addictive features" lack protective mechanisms found in legal gambling, and some bets appeared rigged—e.g., weather bets where sensors may have been hacked, prompting an investigation by the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit in May 2026 Source: cointelegraphSource: coindesk. Advertising unauthorized gambling sites can lead to fines up to €100,000 ($114,380) Source: engadget.
Broader Crackdown
France joins other nations blocking Polymarket, including Spain, Singapore, and Brazil. In the US, states like Minnesota have banned prediction markets, and Kentucky sued Polymarket and Kalshi in June 2026 Source: cointelegraph. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued eight states over jurisdiction Source: cointelegraph. A source told Reuters Polymarket's annualised revenue exceeded $1 billion Source: cna.
Story timeline · 2 earlier headlines
- France orders ISPs to block Polymarket, citing illegal gambling and manipulation concerns10d ago · 5 sources
- France orders ISPs to block access to prediction market Polymarket9d ago · 3 sources
- France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Over Illegal Gamblingcurrent
Sources
4 quotesengadget↗
“According to ANJ, Polymarket saw 578,751 visits, 205,057 of which were unique visits, in the month of June from French residents. Now the ANJ wants to crack down harder on Polymarket, again emphasizing that the platform is considered an illegal gambling site.”
cointelegraph↗
“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.'”
coindesk↗
“The ANJ said the real-time odds display promoted an unauthorized gambling service. 'The site's homepage, which dynamically displays real-time odds for various events open to betting, thus serves as a major channel for disseminating and promoting Polymarket's offerings, even though the site's operations are not authorized in France,' the regulator wrote.”