Key Takeaways:
Polymarket plans to challenge France's order blocking its website nationwide, arguing the measure goes beyond what's needed since trading from the country was already disabled eight months ago.
Polymarket said it will challenge France's decision to block its website through the French legal system, arguing the order is disproportionate because it prevents users from accessing market probabilities even though trading from the country has been disabled since November 2024.
"We were surprised at the ANJ decision to block access to our entire website because their measure targets people going to Polymarket purely for information," the company said in a press release. "We are proud that most people come to Polymarket solely to learn the probability of future events relevant to their everyday life with no intention to trade. Prediction markets help source truth."
France's National Gambling Authority (ANJ) ordered internet service providers to block the platform last week, citing concerns that Polymarket continued to promote an unauthorized gambling service. The regulator said the site drew 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in France during June alone, according to Similarweb data, and that its homepage displays live odds that constitute advertising for an unlicensed gambling operation. The ANJ also flagged risks around identity checks and suspected manipulation of weather-related markets.
The dispute centers on how Polymarket's contracts should be classified. The company describes them as blockchain-based financial instruments traded directly between users, with prices determined by peer-to-peer market activity rather than bookmaker-set odds. Polymarket said it does not take the other side of trades or profit from individual market outcomes, distinguishing its model from a traditional gambling operator. The ANJ has taken the opposite view, arguing the platform shares addictive characteristics with regulated gambling products while offering none of the consumer protections.
France is the latest in a string of countries to order ISP-level blocks against Polymarket. Ukraine imposed a block in January, Argentina followed in March, and Spain blocked both Polymarket and rival Kalshi in May. Other countries including Brazil, India, Indonesia and Romania have also restricted access or classified the platform as an unauthorized gambling service.
Polymarket said discussions with French authorities, including the cybercrime unit of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office, remain ongoing, though it provided no timetable for its legal challenge or for restoring access in France. The company said it intends to continue cooperating with authorities throughout the legal process.
The regulatory crackdown across multiple jurisdictions creates an uncertain outlook for prediction market platforms. With at least five countries now enforcing ISP-level blocks and several more imposing access restrictions, Polymarket's global user base faces growing friction. The company has not said whether it plans to challenge enforcement actions outside France.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
