France's gambling regulator ordered internet providers to block Polymarket on July 16, escalating actions that began in November 2024 when the platform cut off French trading. The Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) said Polymarket promotes illegal gambling that could expose users to significant losses and manipulation. The blocking order came after the site drew 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in France in June despite the November 2024 trading ban, with the regulator stating that displaying live odds constitutes advertising for an unauthorized service punishable by fines up to 100,000 euros ($114,000). The action reflects France's ongoing scrutiny of prediction markets, dating to 2024 when a French trader made an estimated $79 million on a Trump presidential win bet, and follows similar enforcement in Czech Republic, Portugal, and Brazil.
ANJ Cites Criminal Penalties for Unlicensed Gambling Promotion
The ANJ said in a statement Friday that its president issued the blocking order because the site "is promoting an illegal gambling and betting offering." The regulator stated that some wagers offered on the platform could be manipulated, pointing to weather bets where sensors may have been hacked. The Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit opened an investigation on May 4.
The regulator said promoting an unlicensed betting site is a criminal offense in France punishable by fines of up to 100,000 euros ($114,000). The block will remain until the platform complies with French rules, according to the ANJ.
The November 2024 restrictions followed a formal notice from the regulator. That earlier ban apparently failed to keep French users away, as the site remained available in view-only mode. The ANJ said Polymarket's homepage, which displays live odds even where trading is restricted, amounts to advertising for an unauthorized gambling service.
Block Timing Precedes World Cup Final Market Settlement
Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium, which kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, will settle Polymarket's World Cup Winner market. The market represents the largest single market in the platform's history at more than $4 billion in volume, according to data the company shared with Fortune. A separate contract on the final has drawn more than $1.27 billion on rival Kalshi.
France, which Spain eliminated in the semifinals, was the betting favorite for much of the tournament. As of early July, France had an implied probability of roughly 35% in Kalshi's World Cup winner market.
The World Cup pushed combined monthly volume across Kalshi, Polymarket, and Polymarket US to $44.8 billion in June, a 75% jump from May, according to The Block's data dashboard. Reuters reported last month that Polymarket's annualized revenue has passed $1 billion.
European Jurisdictions Enact Similar Platform Restrictions
The Czech Ministry of Finance ordered internet providers to block Polymarket on July 13. Portugal ordered a block in January. Brazil enacted a sweeping ban on prediction and betting platforms in April.
French scrutiny of the platform dates to 2024, when a French trader known as "Fredi9999" made an estimated $79 million betting on Donald Trump's presidential win.
Polymarket did not immediately respond to The Block's request for comment.
FAQ
What did France's gambling regulator order on July 16?
The Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket because the site is promoting an illegal gambling and betting offering. The regulator said the platform could expose users to significant gambling losses and that some wagers offered on it could be manipulated.
Why did the ANJ escalate enforcement against Polymarket?
The site drew 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in France in June despite a November 2024 trading ban. The regulator stated that displaying live odds on the homepage constitutes advertising for an unauthorized gambling service, which is a criminal offense in France punishable by fines up to 100,000 euros ($114,000).
How many other countries have blocked Polymarket?
The Czech Republic ordered internet providers to block Polymarket on July 13, Portugal ordered a block in January, and Brazil enacted a sweeping ban on prediction and betting platforms in April.
