Key facts
- France's gambling regulator, the ANJ, ordered ISPs to block Polymarket on July 16.
- The ANJ considers prediction markets illegal gambling and unauthorized gambling sites a criminal offense.
- Polymarket's operations are not authorized in France.
- Concerns cited include addictive features, lack of self-exclusion tools, and potential outcome manipulation.
- A cybercrime investigation in Paris is ongoing.
- Polymarket is now blocked in over 30 jurisdictions globally.
France's gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has ordered internet service providers to block the prediction market platform Polymarket, classifying it as an illegal gambling site. The ANJ stated that Polymarket's operations are not authorized in France and that advertising such unauthorized sites can lead to fines of up to 100,000 euros ($114,380).
The regulator cited concerns over the platform's "addictive mechanics" and the absence of self-exclusion tools, similar to regulated gambling sites. Despite previous financial transaction restrictions implemented in November 2024, Polymarket saw significant traffic from France, with 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in June, according to Similarweb data. The ANJ noted that the site's real-time odds display promotes an unauthorized gambling service.
This decision follows a complaint from Météo-France regarding weather-related bets and scrutiny over a prominent French trader's influence on U.S. election odds. A cybercrime investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor's office on May 4. France's stance on prediction markets hardened in February 2026, when the ANJ reclassified them as illegal gambling.
Polymarket is now facing restrictions in over 30 jurisdictions globally, including Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, India, Indonesia, Italy, Germany, Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine.