The list of countries closing their doors to Polymarket continues to grow, and this time the move comes from one of Europe’s largest economies. France’s gambling authority, the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), has ordered all internet service providers in the country to block access to the prediction market platform. Notably for Indonesian readers: Indonesia had already taken the same path earlier.
In a press release on Friday, the ANJ pulled no punches regarding its reasoning. Prediction market sites like Polymarket, according to the regulator, are a form of illegal gambling - period.
Fines of Up to €100,000 for Advertisers
The ANJ emphasized that Polymarket’s operations are unlicensed in France. Furthermore, advertising an unlicensed gambling site in the country constitutes a criminal offense carrying fines of up to 100,000 euros, or roughly $114,000. This is not merely an advisory, but a strict legal stance.
For those unfamiliar, prediction markets allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to the outcome of future events - ranging from elections and sports matches to economic data and geopolitical developments. This very model has fueled Polymarket’s surge over the past two years, driving billions of dollars in trading volume. However, that popularity has been accompanied by persistent regulatory scrutiny: do its event contracts constitute illegal gambling, or unlicensed financial products?
‘Addictive Features Without a Safety Net’
The ANJ’s concerns go beyond licensing issues. The regulator stated that Polymarket features ‘addictive characteristics’ similar to licensed, regulated gambling services, but - and this is the key point - ‘reinforced by the absence of protective mechanisms present in legal gambling markets.’ In other words, the thrill is just as compelling as gambling, but without the safety nets that are typically mandatory. The ANJ also raised the potential for outcome manipulation tied to several event contracts on the platform.
France had actually announced plans for this block back in November 2024, after determining that Polymarket failed to comply with national gambling laws. Pressure intensified when the Paris Public Prosecutor’s cybercrime unit launched an investigation in May 2026 and found a lack of identity verification, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) checks.
France now joins the ranks of jurisdictions that previously shut down access: Singapore, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Ukraine, Brazil, and Indonesia. Polymarket itself claims it is currently geoblocked in 36 jurisdictions - a number that continues to grow rather than shrink.
Pressure Beyond Europe
Across the Atlantic, Polymarket faces an equally fierce legal battle. On June 17, the state of Kentucky sued five prediction market platforms - including Kalshi and Polymarket - accusing them of operating unlicensed sports betting platforms, and at least 17 other states have filed similar lawsuits. Interestingly, federal regulators are standing on the opposite side: the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) countersued eight states, arguing that they are interfering with exclusive federal authority over federally regulated event contracts.
What emerges from all this is a picture of an industry that has yet to find its legal footing. Prediction markets sit in a gray zone between ‘innovative financial products’ and ‘disguised gambling,’ with each jurisdiction pulling them in a different direction. For Indonesian crypto users, France’s move also serves as a reflection: regulations introduced earlier at home align with a global trend that is hardening rather than softening. As long as consumer protection gaps remain unaddressed, the list of blocking nations will likely continue to grow.
Reported via Cointelegraph.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
